Ivanhoe Nearly Doubles Resource at DRC’s Makoko Prospect

Mining company Ivanhoe Mines has announced an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Makoko District copper project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The project’s Indicated Mineral Resources have increased to 27.7 million tons of copper at 2.79% copper, while the Inferred Mineral Resources are 493.7 million tons at 1.70% copper, making the Makoko District the world’s highest grade and fifth largest copper discovery made in the 10 years.

“We deeply appreciate the achievements of our geological team in doubling the size of the Makoko resource in the past 18 months,” stated Robert Friedland, Co-Chairman, IvanHoe Mines, adding “The Makoko District remains open in multiple directions, offering significant opportunities for further expansion.”

The company drilled 147,000m across 311 holes with two-thirds of the holes intersecting copper. The drilling campaign increased the Makoko District by 2 km to 13 km in length.

The company is investing $50 million in its 2025 drilling campaign in the DRC’s Western Foreland – the world’s largest copper district – which includes the Makoto District project.