• Ivanhoe will spend $50 million in 2026 exploring the Western Forelands project in the DRC.

• The site is seen as a potential second copper mine near Kamoa-Kakula.

• An updated resource estimate is expected by mid-2026.

Canadian mining company Ivanhoe Mines plans to allocate $50 million in 2026 to exploration work at its Western Forelands copper project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The amount matches last year’s budget for the asset, which the company sees as a future growth driver alongside its flagship Kamoa-Kakula mine.

The 2026 program follows drilling carried out last year, with operations continuing in the Makoko district through May. This area includes the Makoko, Makoko West and Kitoko deposits. At the same time, Ivanhoe is advancing exploration at Tshipaya and Kamilli, two new targets where it hopes to make additional copper discoveries.

An updated mineral resource estimate is expected by mid-2026. The previous estimate, released in May 2025, reported 773,000 tons of indicated copper resources in the Makoko district, along with 8.38 million tons in inferred resources. Given the progress already made and the potential for further discoveries, Ivanhoe appears to be laying the groundwork for a possible second copper mine in the DRC.

The company currently operates Kamoa-Kakula, the country’s largest copper complex. Located only a few kilometers from that site, Western Forelands could extend Ivanhoe’s footprint in the region if new discoveries confirm its potential.

The strategy unfolds amid rising global demand for copper, a key metal for the energy transition. Still, several steps remain before any development decision. While Ivanhoe is focused on expanding the project’s resource base, building a mine would require additional technical studies to confirm economic viability.

Beyond the DRC, Ivanhoe continues to pursue copper exploration in Zambia’s North-Western Province and in Angola, where it holds the Moxico license.

Aurel Sèdjro Houenou