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Does Kamoa-Kakula’s New Copper Smelter Shift The Bull Case For Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN)?

Simply Wall St · 6d ago
  • Ivanhoe Mines has reported first production of copper anodes from the Kamoa-Kakula smelter in the Democratic Republic of Congo, now Africa’s largest copper smelter with a capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year.
  • This milestone is expected to lift operating efficiency by cutting logistics costs and creating new revenue from by-product sulphuric acid, while planned destocking of on-site concentrate should support higher copper sales in 2026 than mine production alone.
  • We’ll now examine how integrating the Kamoa-Kakula smelter, and its potential margin benefits, reshapes Ivanhoe Mines’ existing investment narrative.

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Ivanhoe Mines Investment Narrative Recap

To own Ivanhoe Mines, you need to believe Kamoa-Kakula can deliver reliable, low cost copper at scale while funding parallel growth projects without overstretching the balance sheet. The first copper anodes from the new smelter directly support the key short term catalyst of margin improvement, but do little to remove the main risk around operational resilience and dewatering after the 2025 seismic event.

The recent guidance update on Kamoa-Kakula, which flagged that 2026 copper sales should exceed mine production as on-site concentrate is destocked through the smelter, ties directly into this milestone. It reinforces the smelter’s role in lifting cash generation, but also underlines how dependent the broader Ivanhoe story remains on a smooth ramp-up and stable underground operations at Kamoa-Kakula.

Yet behind the promise of higher copper sales and margin benefits, investors should be aware of the lingering geotechnical risk at Kamoa-Kakula and...

Read the full narrative on Ivanhoe Mines (it's free!)

Ivanhoe Mines' narrative projects $1.1 billion revenue and $805.9 million earnings by 2028.

Uncover how Ivanhoe Mines' forecasts yield a CA$17.95 fair value, a 12% upside to its current price.

Exploring Other Perspectives

TSX:IVN 1-Year Stock Price Chart
TSX:IVN 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Three fair value estimates from the Simply Wall St Community span from CA$6.11 to CA$20.66, showing how far apart individual views on Ivanhoe can be. When you set those against the smelter led cost and margin catalyst, it highlights why weighing several independent perspectives on the company’s future operating performance really matters.

Explore 3 other fair value estimates on Ivanhoe Mines - why the stock might be worth as much as 29% more than the current price!

Build Your Own Ivanhoe Mines Narrative

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.