Kipushi mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo produced a record 77,147 tonnes of zinc in the third quarter of 2026, up 10% from the previous quarter, as Ivanhoe Mines assesses whether the deposit could also yield germanium and gallium.
Operated by Ivanhoe in partnership with state-owned Gécamines, Kipushi produced 203,168 tonnes of zinc in concentrate in 2025. Its latest quarterly result adds to the production growth achieved through the revival of the high-grade deposit.
Zinc remains the mine’s established product, but its germanium and gallium content could give Kipushi an additional role in supplying materials used in semiconductors, fibre optics and other advanced technologies. Ivanhoe is examining options to recover those metals alongside zinc.
The increase in output also raises demands on electricity supply and transport infrastructure, two persistent constraints on mining operations in the DRC. Processing more of the country’s mineral resources domestically would require further investment in facilities and the infrastructure serving them.
Recovering germanium and gallium would add products beyond Kipushi’s current zinc output. That work remains at the assessment stage: the information provided does not specify a recovery process, investment commitment or production timetable.
