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Ivanhoe expands Makoko copper discovery in DR Congo by 30%
The updated estimate puts Makoko at about 12 million tonnes of contained copper, with a scoping study planned for the first quarter of 2027.
Ivanhoe Mines is accelerating development planning for its Makoko District in the Democratic Republic of Congo after expanding the discovery by 30% versus its 2025 estimate, according to Mining.com. The update lifts Makoko to about 12 million tonnes of contained copper, with additional growth expected from ongoing drilling.
The company said the Makoko district now includes 42 million tonnes of indicated resources grading 2.66% copper, plus 612 million tonnes of inferred resources grading 1.8% copper. Ivanhoe described Makoko as part of its Western Forelands project and said the higher resource strengthens plans to advance what it calls the world’s largest, highest grade copper discovery of the past decade.
Ivanhoe plans to begin a scoping study in the first quarter of 2027 while expanding drilling to support faster project development, the outlet added. The company is considering a mix of shallow open pits and underground mining, which it says could reduce upfront capital needs and shorten the path to first production.
The miner has already started site preparation, including fencing, road construction and environmental baseline work. Mining.com also noted that Ivanhoe founder Robert Friedland said about 60,000 metres of drilling completed in 2026 were not included in the latest estimate, and that mineralization remains open in multiple directions.
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