Ivanhoe Mines has discovered the Makoko West extension in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), part of its Western Forelands prospect.
This find extends westward into new exploration licences acquired in late 2024, increasing the company’s licence footprint by 20%.
Drilling has confirmed high-grade copper mineralization at Makoko West, extending the district’s strike length by 20% to over 13 km.
This makes it comparable in scale to the Kakula orebody, the main copper source for Ivanhoe’s Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex.
In 2024, Ivanhoe conducted its largest-ever drilling campaign, completing over 80,000 meters of diamond drilling, primarily focusing on Makoko West and the adjacent Kitoko discovery. Founder and executive co-chair Robert Friedland emphasized the campaign’s success in advancing Ivanhoe’s understanding of the mineralized system. An updated resource estimate for Makoko and Kitoko is expected in Q2 2025.
Makoko West was a key 2024 drilling target, with high-grade copper intercepted at depths of 120–300 meters over thicknesses of 5–15 meters.
Recognizing further potential, Ivanhoe acquired an 80% interest in a 336 km² licence area west of Makoko West, expanding its total Western Forelands licence area to 5.5 times that of Kamoa-Kakula.
Ivanhoe has allocated $50 million of its $75-million 2025 exploration budget to Western Forelands, including 102,000 meters of diamond drilling and 18,000 meters of reverse circulation drilling. A 200 km² soil sampling program is underway to refine future drilling targets.
Ivanhoe Mines has appointed Marna Cloete as CEO. With nearly two decades at the company, Cloete previously served as CFO and president, playing a key role in advancing Ivanhoe’s projects.
Additionally, Annebel Oosthuizen has been named MD of the Kamoa Copper Joint Venture, and Tom van den Berg has joined as a senior executive overseeing Kamoa-Kakula operations.
With the Makoko West discovery, expanded exploration, and leadership transitions, Ivanhoe Mines strengthens its position in the DRC’s high-grade copper sector. The company remains committed to unlocking the full potential of its world-class assets.
