Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. Suspends Operations at Kakula Mine Due to Seismic Activity

On May 20, 2025, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., a materials company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, announced the temporary suspension of underground mining operations at its Kakula mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This decision follows recent seismic activity in the region, as reported by multiple sources including StockWatch, Mining Weekly, and Bloomberg.

The company, which specializes in the exploration and development of mineral properties, primarily produces copper from its operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ivanhoe Mines is also developing zinc-copper and palladium-rhodium-platinum-nickel-copper-gold mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa, respectively.

Despite the suspension at Kakula, operations at the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators continue at a reduced capacity using surface stockpiles. Additionally, activities at the Kamoa mine and the Phase 3 concentrator remain uninterrupted, ensuring some level of ongoing production.

Ivanhoe Mines’ CEO, Robert Friedland, recently emphasized the growing demand for copper, highlighting new mining opportunities in regions such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kazakhstan. This underscores the strategic importance of the company’s operations in the Congo, despite the current challenges.

As of May 1, 2025, Ivanhoe Mines’ stock closed at CAD 14.26, with a market capitalization of CAD 14.11 billion. The company’s price-to-earnings ratio stands at 32.55, reflecting its financial standing in the metals and mining sector.

The temporary halt in operations at Kakula is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of workers and the integrity of the mining infrastructure. Ivanhoe Mines continues to monitor the situation closely and will resume operations once it is deemed safe to do so.