At present, the trucks carrying copper and cobalt concentrate could still pass through the border, and the effective date of the order is not mentioned, sources said.
The order comes on the same week Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) announced the beginning of production of copper concentrate at its Kamoa-Kakula project in the DRC, months ahead of schedule as the metal continues to trade close to all-time highs.
Kakula, the first mine planned at the concession, is initially forecast to generate 3.8 million tonnes of ore a year at an average feed grade “well in excess of 6% copper” over the first five years of operation, the company said.
