BEIJING, CHINA – Robert Friedland and Yufeng “Miles” Sun, Co-Chairmen of Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF), announced today that the company has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd. (CNMC), one of China’s leading mining companies, to jointly examine exploration, development and acquisition of mineral projects, as well as production, smelting and logistics opportunities, on the African continent.
CNMC, headquartered in Beijing China, is a world leader in the development of nonferrous metal projects; with exploration, construction and engineering, mining, smelting and logistical operations spanning more than 80 countries and covering more than 40 nonferrous metals, including copper, nickel, cobalt, gold, silver, tantalum, niobium, beryllium, zinc and lead.
More than 20 years ago, China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction Corp., the predecessor of CNMC,made the first international acquisition by a Chinese mining company with the purchase of the Chambishi Copper Mine in Zambia; an investment that was facilitated by Mr. Friedland. CNMC’s continued development of the project led to the commencement of operations at the Chambishi Copper Smelter in 2009. Copper production from the Chambishi South East Ore Body began in 2018.
Among CNMC’s diverse portfolio of projects is the Lualaba copper smelter near the city of Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which began commercial operations earlier this year. Lualaba is the first modern, large, pyro-metallurgical copper smelter built in DRC, and is approximately 45 kilometres from Ivanhoe Mines’ Kamoa-Kakula copper joint venture. A new, dedicated highway directly connects Kamoa-Kakula and Kolwezi.
CNMC also recently began operations at the Deziwa Copper-Cobalt Mine, a joint-venture with Gécamines − the DRC’s state mining company. Deziwa is approximately 35 kilometres east of Kolwezi.
“Our long-standing relationship with CNMC goes back decades to when Wu Jianchang was the general manager of China National Nonferrous Metals Industry Corporation − a pioneer industrial group specializing in the mining and metallurgy sector. Our good friends at CNMC are aware of the enormous challenges of discovering and building a new world-scale copper, nickel, zinc, or platinum-group metals mine. They also appreciate that ‘grade is king’ and that the DRC, and indeed all of Africa, has by far and away this planet’s best potential for major, new, high-grade mineral discoveries,” said Mr. Friedland.
“Our friends at CNMC also share our conviction that an environmentally-responsible and secure supply of critical metals for clean-air and clean-water technologies – such as copper, nickel, platinum-group metals, cobalt and vanadium – is one of the most important hurdles for humanity to overcome as we collectively embrace a sustainable, low-carbon-energy revolution.”
“The time to act to address the looming shortfall in key, ‘green’ metals, is now. The strategic partnership with CNMC will provide significant opportunities for collaboration on mineral exploration, mine planning, development and acquisition of mineral projects, logistics and smelting – beginning with examining the synergies between the operations currently owned by our two companies,” Mr. Friedland added.
Mr. Sun added, “In CNMC, we chose a partner who is not only truly complementary to Ivanhoe’s existing operations, but also shares our long-standing view that Africa hosts the world’s richest, long-life deposits of the critical metals that underpin clean-energy technology.
CNMC’s Chairman Wang Tongzhou said: “CNMC is striving to become a world-class mining company, and Ivanhoe – one of the world's best and fastest-growing mining companies – is an excellent role model for us to learn from. I strongly believe that cooperation is the best way to achieving the goals of both companies.”
“This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has engulfed the world and greatly impacted mining companies. In these challenging times, the need to work together is more pressing than ever. Building on the opportunities created by this agreement and championing the mutually beneficial alliance, I believe that the core projects of each of our companies will soon be realized. I also believe that this agreement will create new opportunities for cooperation, so that more projects can be successfully implemented in the future,” Mr. Wang added.
Marna Cloete, President of Ivanhoe Mines, commented; “The team at Kamoa-Kakula has done a stellar job of keeping the development of the Kakula Copper Mine ahead of schedule, and we are confident in the team’s ability to successfully complete the remaining phases of construction and commissioning, and bring Kakula into production less than a year from now. It is a great time to be partnering with CNMC; an internationally-respected miner that has an established track record of notable achievements in Africa and is familiar with our various stakeholders from Africa and China. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with CNMC that allows both companies to create value for all of our respective stakeholders.”
Zhang Jinjun, CNMC’s Vice President (centre left), and Peter Zhou, Executive Vice President and Chief Representative China of Ivanhoe Mines (centre right), exchange a gift after signing the strategic partnership agreement.
Other attendees include (from left to right) Gao Shunqing, Chairman of CNIT (CNMC International Trade Ltd.); Qin Junman, Vice Chairman of NFC (China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd.); Zhu Jinghe, CNMC’s Deputy Director of Investment and Mineral Exploration; Shawn Wang, Head of Investment & Business Development of Ivanhoe Mines China; Cathy Liu, Head of Operations of Ivanhoe Mines China; and Bruce Li, Project Coordinator of Ivanhoe Mines China.
About CNMC
CNMC is a large, Chinese state-owned enterprise. It was established in 1983 and is headquartered in Beijing. In 2012, its core assets in Africa were listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE:1258). Currently CNMC owns and operates the following assets:
- Chambishi Copper Mine, Zambia
- Luanshya Copper Mine, Zambia
- Chambishi Copper Smelter, Zambia
- Chambishi Leach Plant, Zambia
- Deziwa Copper & Cobalt Mine, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Lualaba Copper Smelter, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Kambove Copper & Cobalt Mine, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Panda, Huachin & Mabende Leach Plant, Democratic Republic of Congo
About Ivanhoe Mines
Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal joint-venture projects in Southern Africa: the development of major new, mechanized, underground mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper discoveries in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and at the Platreef palladium-platinum-nickel-copper-rhodium-gold discovery in South Africa; and the extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC. Kamoa-Kakula and Kipushi will be powered by clean, renewable hydroelectricity and will be among the world’s lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of metal produced. Ivanhoe also is exploring for new copper discoveries on its wholly-owned Western Foreland exploration licences in the DRC, near the Kamoa-Kakula Project.
Information contacts
Investors Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834
Media Matthew Keevil +1.604. 558.1034
中国北京 — 艾芬豪矿业 (TSX: IVN; OTCQX:IVPAF) 联席董事长罗伯特·弗里兰德 (Robert Friedland) 与孙玉峰 (Miles Sun) 今天宣布，公司与中国领先矿业公司中国有色矿业集团有限公司 (以下简称“中国有色集团”) 签署战略合作协议，将共同探讨在非洲大陆勘探、开发和收购矿产项目，以及生产、冶炼和物流等领域的合作机会。
中国有色集团的总部位于中国北京，是有色金属项目开发的全球领军者，从事的勘探、建筑工程、采矿、冶炼和物流等业务遍布80多个国家，涉及40多个有色金属品种，包括铜、镍、钴、黄金、白银、钽、铌、铍、锌和铅金属。
早于20多年前，中色建设集团有限公司（CNMC的前身）作为首家进行国际收购的中国矿业公司，在弗里兰德先生的协助下，成功收购了位于赞比亚的谦比希 (Chambishi) 铜矿。经过中国有色集团多年的持续开发，谦比希铜冶炼厂于2009年开始运营。 2018年，谦比希铜矿东南矿体项目开始实现铜生产。
中国有色集团拥有多个项目资产，其中包括位于刚果民主共和国 (以下简称“刚果”) 邻近科卢韦齐市的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂，于今年年初开始商业运营。卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂是刚果首座大型的现代化火法冶炼厂，距离艾芬豪矿业的卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿(Kamoa-Kakula) 合资项目约45公里，目前一条新的高速专线公路直接连接卡莫阿-卡库拉与科卢韦齐。
另外，中国有色集团的迪兹瓦 (Deziwa) 铜钴矿最近开始运营。该矿是中国有色集团和刚果国有矿业公司（Gécamines）的合资企业，距离科卢韦齐以东约35公里。
弗里兰德先生说﹕“艾芬豪与中国有色集团的长期合作关系可追溯到几十年前，当时吴建常先生是中国有色金属工业总公司总经理，中国有色金属工业总公司是中国最早的冶金和矿业集团公司。中国有色集团的同仁了解勘探和建设新的世界级铜、镍、锌或铂族金属矿山的种种挑战。他们也赞同'资源禀赋，品位为王'的理念，且认同刚果以至整个非洲是迄今全球范围内最具潜力发现新的大型富矿的区域。”
“中国有色集团的同仁与我们的信念一致。随着人类共同拥抱可持续的低碳能源发展路径，目前最重要的任务之一就是为清洁空气和清洁水源相关技术领域所需的关键金属原料提供环保且可靠的供应 (如铜、镍、铂族金属、钴和钒)。”
弗里兰德先生补充说﹕“现在正是采取行动解决重要‘环保’金属短缺问题的最佳时机。这次与中国有色集团的战略性合作，为我们提供多个领域的重大合作机会，包括矿产勘探、采矿规划、开发和收购矿产项目、物流和冶炼等。目前，我们的首要任务是深入挖掘两家公司当前业务之间的协同效应。”
孙玉峰先生补充说﹕“我们与中国有色集团的合作，不单能够真正助力艾芬豪现有业务的发展，两家企业更有着共同的长期愿景，双方一致认为非洲大陆蕴藏着全球最富有和长周期服役年限的关键金属矿山，这些矿产将会支持清洁能源技术的发展。”
王彤宙董事长表示：“艾芬豪矿业是世界知名矿业企业，中国有色集团作为中国有色行业“走出去”排头兵企业，强强联合，与巨人同行，合作是最好的学习和对标。”
王董事长补充道：“年初以来，新冠疫情影响波及全球矿业企业，我们希望能同艾芬豪矿业加强协同和合作，共同应对新冠疫情带来的冲击。此次双方在这样的特殊时刻签署集团层面的战略合作协议，体现了双方对于互补合作、共同发展的珍视，希望双方以此次签约为契机，本着互利共赢的原则，推动核心项目尽快签约实施，同时，研讨和创新合作模式，促成更多项目实质落地，共同打造矿业领域的合作典范，也体现了中国有色集团打造世界一流矿业企业的决心和信心！”
中国有色集团副总经理张晋军（左一），艾芬豪矿业执行副总裁兼中国业务负责人周超（右一），在签署战略合作协议后交换纪念品。
其他参会人员（从左至右）：中色国际贸易有限公司董事长高顺清、中国有色金属建设股份有限公司党委书记秦军满、中国有色集团投资矿勘部主任朱景和、艾芬豪矿业中国投资和业务开发部总经理王松、艾芬豪矿业中国运营总监刘可欣、艾芬豪矿业中国项目协调专员李艳保。
艾芬豪矿业总裁玛娜·克洛特 (Marna Cloete) 表示﹕“卡莫阿-卡库拉团队表现出色，使卡库拉铜矿的开发持续超计划预期推进。我们有信心，团队能够成功完成余下阶段的建设和调试，使卡库拉在未来一年内实现投产。现在正是与中国有色集团合作的良好时机。中国有色集团是享誉国际的矿业公司，在非洲的业务有着卓越的成就，更为我们在非洲和中国各个利益相关者所熟知。我们期待与中国有色集团建立长期的良好关系，使两家公司都能为双方的利益相关者创造价值。”
艾芬豪矿业执行副总裁、中国区业务负责人周超 (Peter Zhou) 表示：“艾芬豪矿业是一家在加拿大上市，最具有中国特色的混合所有制矿企。在过去的5年里，我们持续推进‘满足中国所需、为中国市场打造’的经营理念，不断吸引包括紫金矿业、中信金属以及中国有色集团等最优质的的中国要素共同开发非洲大陆的矿业资产。通过这几年的努力，我们欣喜地看到，基于中非特殊的友谊，中国要素在非洲大陆生根发芽，蓬勃发展，不仅实现了我们预期的商业价值，更为‘一带一路’在非洲的落地做出了实质性的贡献。我们期待着本次与中国有色集团的战略合作协议给双方在非洲的产业升级、可持续发展带来新的动力。相信艾芬豪矿业与中国有色集团能够不忘‘互利共赢’之初心，牢记‘为中非命运共同体做贡献’之使命。”
关于中国有色集团
中国有色集团是一家大型的中国国有企业，于1983年成立，总部设于北京。2012年中国有色集团旗下非洲核心业务在香港上市（HKSE:1258）。目前中国有色集团在中南部非洲持有和经营以下资产：
- 赞比亚的谦比希铜矿
- 赞比亚的卢安夏铜矿
- 赞比亚的谦比希铜冶炼厂
- 赞比亚的谦比希湿法冶炼厂
- 刚果民主共和国的迪兹瓦矿山
- 刚果民主共和国的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂
- 刚果民主共和国的刚波夫铜钴矿
- 刚果民主共和国的潘达、华鑫和马本德湿法冶炼厂
关于艾芬豪矿业
艾芬豪矿业是一家加拿大的矿业公司，目前正推进旗下位于南部非洲的三大合资企业项目﹕位于刚果民主共和国 (简称“刚果”) 的卡莫阿-卡库拉 (Kamoa-Kakula) 铜矿和位于南非的普拉特瑞夫 (Platreef) 钯-铂-镍-铜-铑-金矿的大型机械化地下矿山开发工程，以及同样位于刚果、久负盛名的基普什 (Kipushi) 锌-铜-锗-银矿的大型重建和改善工程。卡莫阿-卡库拉和基普什将使用清洁、可再生的水电，并将成为全球每单位金属温室气体排放量最低的矿山之一。同时，艾芬豪正在刚果境内其全资拥有、毗邻卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的西部前沿 (Western Foreland) 勘探许可区内寻找新的铜矿资源。
联系方式
投资者﹕Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834 媒体﹕Matthew Keevil +1.604. 558.1034
