DRA Global (“DRA”) has been awarded the contract for Basic Engineering services on the Kakula Mine portion of the greater Kamoa-Kakula Project. The Kamoa-Kakula deposit is the world’s largest high grade, copper-only deposit, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kamoa Copper SA, a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining Group Co, Ltd. and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, will develop the new Copper Mine which will yield an estimated 6 Mtpa in its first phase alone. The Kakula deposit has been independently ranked as the world’s largest, undeveloped, high yield, high-grade copper discovery. Kakula resource is estimated at 174 million tons at a grade of 5.62% copper.
DRA’s project delivery relationship with Ivanhoe Mines started on the high-grade platinum-group metals, nickel and copper Platreef Project in South Africa. It was on this project that DRA demonstrated its experienced capability in project delivery which proved to be a key differentiator for the organisation on Kakula.
DRA was contracted to complete the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), for Kamoa Copper SA, in 2017. In October 2018, DRA was further awarded the contract to deliver a complete Basic Engineering package. The contract scope includes the Basic Engineering and design associated with all underground mining infrastructure, the concentrator plant and all supporting surface infrastructure. Work began in October 2018 and is estimated to conclude by mid-2019.
In addition to the Basic Engineering, DRA offers continued support on the early works, which includes equipping the main declines with dewatering and conveyor systems, ventilation shafts and associated surface infrastructure.
Alistair Hodgkinson, DRA Executive Vice President, Projects, has credited winning the entire Basic Engineering contract to the teams’ hard work, commitment, flexible solutions, and client relationships. “The team working on this project has gone above and beyond to meet deadlines and exceed client expectations ultimately to ensure that this signature project starts producing as soon as possible. The DRA team overcome all challenges head-on and worked in collaboration to find flexible solutions that add value to the project,” concludes Hodgkinson.
