Quick Facts
| Location | Haut-Katanga Province; -11.77°S, 27.25°E |
| Ownership | Ivanhoe Mines 62%, Gécamines 38% |
| Production | 203,168 tonnes zinc in concentrate (2025); 2026 guidance 240,000-290,000t |
| Workforce | ~2,500 |
| Primary Minerals | Zinc, Copper, Germanium, Silver, Gallium |
| Corridor Connection | 30km from Lubumbashi; ~250km SE of Kamoa-Kakula |
| Operator Website | www.ivanhoemines.com |
Overview
The Kipushi Mine is the world's highest-grade zinc operation and one of the most storied mines in African mining history. Located adjacent to the town of Kipushi, approximately 30 kilometres southwest of Lubumbashi and less than one kilometre from the Zambian border, this century-old mine was officially reopened by President Felix Tshisekedi on November 17, 2024, after 31 years on care and maintenance.
Between 1924 and 1993, Kipushi produced approximately 60 million tonnes grading 11% zinc and 7% copper, along with 12,673 tonnes of lead and approximately 278 tonnes of germanium. Ivanhoe Mines acquired its interest in 2011, and in late 2022 finalized an agreement with Gécamines to return the mine to production.
Construction of the 800,000 tonne-per-annum concentrator was completed in May 2024, with first concentrate produced on June 14, 2024. The plant targets recoveries of 96% and an average concentrate grade of 55% contained zinc. A debottlenecking program completed in Q3 2025 expanded throughput capacity by 20% to 960,000 tonnes per annum.
Kipushi produced a record 203,168 tonnes of zinc in concentrate in 2025, achieving guidance, including a monthly record of 22,629 tonnes in December. The 2026 production guidance is set at 240,000 to 290,000 tonnes of zinc, positioning Kipushi as a globally significant zinc operation.
Kipushi's concentrate also contains germanium and gallium, two strategic critical minerals. Ivanhoe has reported concentrate assays of up to 90 g/t germanium and 70 g/t gallium. The downstream processing and offtake path for these by-product critical minerals remains a monitoring item; unsupported claims about specific U.S. stockpile or smelter arrangements should be treated as unverified until confirmed in company or government filings.
Community Impact
Kipushi town's economy has been intimately tied to the mine for a century. The closure in the 1990s devastated the local economy, and the reopening represents what Gécamines Chairman Guy-Robert Lukama Nkunzi called the revival of the town's beating heart. The mine is expected to be a leading employer and social driver for the region.
Ivanhoe has committed to following the community development model established at Kamoa-Kakula, including local hiring preferences, supplier development, and community investment programs. The Kamoa Centre of Excellence bursary program provides educational opportunities for young Congolese scholars.
Environmental Profile
Kipushi is recognized as one of the lowest carbon-intensity zinc operations globally on a Scope 1 and 2 emissions basis. Skarn Associates estimates Kipushi's GHG emissions intensity at 0.019 equivalent tonnes of CO2 per tonne of contained zinc produced — ranking it at the very bottom of the global emissions curve for zinc producers.
This remarkable performance stems from Kipushi's integration with renewable hydropower. The mine runs substantially on renewable power, with Ivanhoe's investment in refurbishing Turbine #5 at the Inga II hydroelectric facility further supporting clean energy access across the DRC.
ESG Assessment
Status: Under Assessment
This mine has not yet received a formal Lobito Corridor ESG rating. Our assessment team is compiling baseline data from public sources, field observations, and stakeholder consultations. ESG review signals, when issued, will be verified through the source library.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1924 | Original mine production begins under Belgian colonial administration |
| 1993 | Mine placed on care and maintenance after 69 years of production |
| 2011 | Ivanhoe Mines acquires 68% interest in Kipushi project |
| 2022 | Ivanhoe and Gécamines finalize agreement to restart production |
| May 2024 | Concentrator construction completed; first ore feed May 31 |
| June 2024 | First zinc concentrate produced June 14 |
| Nov 2024 | President Tshisekedi officially reopens the mine |
| Q3 2025 | Debottlenecking completed; capacity increased 20% to 960,000 tpa |
| 2025 | Record 203,168t zinc produced; monthly record 22,629t in December |
| 2026 | Guidance set at 240,000-290,000t zinc; germanium/gallium by-product route remains under monitoring |
Related Pages
Company: Ivanhoe Mines
Minerals: Zinc · Germanium · Copper
Community: Kipushi Town · Lubumbashi
Related Mines: Kamoa-Kakula (sister operation)
Country: DRC Profile
Index: All Mine Profiles · ESG Observatory
This profile is produced independently by Lobito Corridor and does not represent the views of Ivanhoe Mines / Gécamines or any government. Data sourced from public filings, government reports, and independent research. Last updated: May 21, 2026.
Independent ESG Assessment
Our independent ESG assessment evaluates this operation's environmental management, social impact, governance quality, and disclosure transparency. Environmental assessment covers water management, waste handling, air emissions, biodiversity impacts, and mine closure planning. Social assessment examines community relations, employment practices, local procurement, benefit-sharing, and human rights performance. Governance assessment evaluates corporate transparency, anti-corruption measures, and stakeholder engagement quality.
Any comparative ESG scorecard should be treated as editorial analysis unless supported by a dated methodology, source pack, and right-of-response process. Rating language should distinguish demonstrated performance from policy commitments.
Community Impact Monitoring
Community impact monitoring around this operation tracks the full spectrum of mining effects on surrounding populations. Employment and procurement spending quantify direct economic benefits to local communities. Environmental monitoring tracks water quality, air quality, and ecosystem health in areas affected by operations. Community consultation processes are evaluated for meaningful participation versus performative compliance. Grievance mechanisms are assessed for accessibility, responsiveness, and outcome fairness.
Stakeholders should assess community-benefit claims through public commitments, implementation evidence, grievance records, regulator material, company disclosures, and credible community or civil-society reporting.
Labour Practices Assessment
Labour practices at this operation are assessed against both national labour law requirements and international standards including ILO conventions and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. Our assessment covers wage levels and payment practices, working hours and overtime compensation, occupational health and safety conditions, freedom of association and collective bargaining, contract terms and employment security, and subcontractor labour standards. Subcontractor labour conditions receive particular attention as subcontracting relationships can create distance between the operating company and workers that enables standards erosion.
Our assessment includes worker consultation that captures perspectives not reflected in corporate compliance reporting. Workers face barriers to reporting concerns through company channels including fear of retaliation, distrust of management-controlled grievance mechanisms, and language barriers. Our independent worker consultation provides confidential channels through which labour concerns can be documented and, where appropriate, escalated through advocacy or referral to labour rights organisations. All worker consultation documentation is handled with strict confidentiality to protect worker anonymity and prevent retaliation.
Supply Chain and Market Position
This mine's position within global mineral supply chains determines the economic dynamics that shape its operational decisions and community impact. Copper and cobalt prices, processing locations, end-user industries, and supply-demand dynamics create the commercial context within which environmental and social management decisions are made. When commodity prices are high, operators may invest more in community development and environmental management; when prices fall, these investments face pressure. Our monitoring tracks the relationship between market conditions and ESG performance to assess whether responsible practices are maintained through market cycles or only during profitable periods.
The corridor's logistics infrastructure — railway capacity, port throughput, transport costs — directly affects this mine's export economics. Improved corridor logistics reduce transport costs, improving mine profitability and potentially creating space for increased community benefit-sharing. Conversely, logistics bottlenecks increase costs and reduce the economic surplus available for community investment. Our strategic analysis evaluates how corridor infrastructure development affects this mine's economics and, consequently, the resources available for community benefit and environmental management.