Kipushi Mine

 mine  Add category

 Upload a photo

Production commenced at what was previously known as the Prince Leopold mine in 1924. In 1967, a new state-owned mining company was formed, Générale des Carrières et des Mines Exploitation (Gécamines), and the Kipushi mine was taken into this new company. Underground mining continued at the site until 1993, when production ceased due to a combination of economic and political factors. Gécamines has been and continues to dewater the mine.

The mine was originally discovered in 1915 and was named the Prince Leopold Mine. A Belgian company, Union Minière du Haut Katanga (UMHK), started mineral production at the Prince Leopold mine in 1924, and reportedly operated the mine on a more or less uninterrupted basis for 42 years. In 1967, with the formation of the state owned mining company Gécamines, the renamed Kipushi mine was nationalised. Production continued under Gécamines until 1993, when, due to a lack of hard currency to purchase supplies and spares, the mine was put on a care and maintenance program.

Ivanplats, in November 2011, via an affiliated company, acquired 68% of Kipushi Corporation Sprl (Kico). Kico itself is a joint venture company set up by Gécamines prior to that date. Ivanplats plans to redevelop the mine to access a new ore body called "Big Zinc".