Running discussion on SP, page-15992

Well you did ask for it. So here is a little of what is happening in DRC.
AVZ Minerals will be a large part of it in the not too distant future.
AVZ will be so important to future global supply of lithium.


Ivanhoe Mines/CITIC Kamoa Kakula 6.8% copper over the first 5 years
The stage one, six million-tonne-per-annum (6 Mtpa) operation at Kakula,
with estimated development capital of US$1.1 billion, yields an after-tax
NPV8% of US$5.4 billion and an IRR of 47% over a 25-year mine life
(PEA) for an expanded Kakula-Kamoa production rate
of 18 Mtpa, supplied initially by a 6 Mtpa mine at Kakula,
followed by two 6 Mtpa mines at Kansoko and Kakula West,
and a world-scale direct-to-blister smelter
Kamoa-Kakula is projected to become the world’s second largest copper
mine, with peak annual production of more than 700,000 tonnes of copper


Glencore, the biggest commodity trader, operates cobalt and copper mines in the country and mined almost 300,000 metric tons of copper and 26,000 tons of cobalt in the first nine months of 2018. It plans to produce significantly more this year, as it ramps up production at its Katanga mine.


Barrick Gold, which completed the $5.4 billion takeover of Randgold Resources Ltd. this week, inherited an interest in the country as part of the deal. The company now operates the Kibali gold mine in the Congo’s northeast, one of the best in the world. The operation will produce more than 700,000 ounces of gold this year. AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. also owns 45 percent of the mine.

Miner and trader Glencore stuck to its 2019 production targets and said cobalt output last year soared 54 percent while copper rose 11 percent due to the restart of operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Production of cobalt, used in batteries for electric vehicles, reached 42,200 tonnes in 2018 while copper hit 1.453 million tonnes. Zinc output was mostly flat year-on-year at 273,300 tonnes.
Glencore reiterated that its copper output in 2019 is projected to reach 1.54 million tonnes and cobalt 57,000 tonnes.

Congo dominates output of the metal. Last year, the central African nation produced two-thirds of global supply, or 81,000 tons, according to Darton. Half of that amount came from the country’s two largest copper mines: China Molybdenum Co.-controlled Tenke Fungurume Mining and Glencore-owned Mutanda Mining.

Chemaf is building a processing plant at its Mutoshi mine in Lualaba province that will open in September 2019 and six months later be capable of producing 20,000 metric tons of cobalt a year, Chairman Shiraz Virji said by email. Added to output from its existing Etoile mine, which was about 5,000 tons last year, that could make Chemaf the world’s second-largest producer.


21/01/2019 CMOC ups Tenke stake in $1.13B deal
China Molybdenum Co (HK: 3993) has agreed to pay BHR Newwood US$1.13 billion to increase its stake in the Tenke Fungurume copper-cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Shanghai and Hong Kong-listed company will move from 70% to 100% of a holding company that holds 80% of Tenke. DRC government-controlled Gecamines holds the balance.

Alphamin opportunity to develop one of the highest grade known tin deposits in the world
The Bisie Project is a mixed tin, copper, lead and zinc orebody substantial tin (cassiterite) deposits
The Company announced a 34% increase to the Mpama North October 2015 Mineral Resource estimate in May 2016. This updated Mineral Resource estimate included Measured Mineral Resources of 0.46 Mt at 4.31% tin for 19 600 tonnes contained tin (0.5% cut-off), Indicated Mineral Resources of 4.14 Mt at 4.55% tin for 188 400 tonnes contained tin (0.5% cut-off), and Inferred Mineral Resources of 0.54 Mt at 4.25% tin for 22 800 tonnes contained tin (0.5% cut-off). In addition, a Probable Mineral Reserve estimate of some 152 800 tonnes of tin contained in 3.52 Mt at 4.34% tin (1.8% cut-off) was declared. Given the significant increase in the Mineral resource estimate at Mpama North the Company elected to update its original Feasibility Study. The results of the updated Feasibility Study were announced on 28 June 2016, and included the following key results:

• · Cash cost per tonne of tin produced and sold of US$ 7 396 and US$ 8 935 respectively;
• · US$ 262.7 million NPV at an 8% real discount rate;
• · Real, after tax IRR of 48.4%; and
• · 23 month payback period post first tin production.

Mining is envisaged at a rate of 350,000 tons per annum of ore, commencing from 50m below surface down to an ultimate depth of 500m.
Current tin price $21,120.50 /t
http://www.mining.com/friedland-confident-congo-copper-mine-will-worlds-second-largest/

http://www.mining.com/web/cobalt-upstarts-add-capacity-congo-prices-triple/