Ivanhoe concludes Kipushi PFS, embarks on DFS

TSX-listed Ivanhoe Mines has outlined the “outstanding” findings of a prefeasibility study (PFS) to revive the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-silver-germanium mine, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The PFS, undertaken to refine the findings of the 2016 preliminary economic assessment (PEA) and optimise the mine’s redevelopment schedule, highlights a redevelopment plan to bring Kipushi’s Big Zinc Zone into production in less than two years. The mine will have an estimated average production rate of 381 000 t/y zinc concentrate over an 11-year initial mine life at a total cash cost of $0.48/lb of zinc.