Ivanhoe educates the next generation of mining leaders

Ivanhoe’s Kamoa Centre of Excellence in the DRC has welcomed its third cohort of students enrolled in the centre’s ‘Ready for Work’ program.

This year’s intake sees two extra students enrolled – 40 in total – compared to the previous intakes of 38 students in 2023 and 2024. Preparation for the centre situated near Ivanhoe’s Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, in DRC’s Central African Copper Belt started in 2021. The 2023 cohort all passed the ‘Ready for Work’ program, developed by Enterprises University of Pretoria. A total of 33 applied for the tertiary education bursaries offered by Ivanhoe.

Of the second cohort, 12 hold DRC bachelor’s degrees, 26 possess the DRC Diplôme d’état, and 12 are from local communities within the mine’s footprint area. According to a student survey, all 38 students expressed a desire to pursue tertiary qualifications, with 60% interested in mining and engineering fields. Notably, 96% of students aspire to work and live in the DRC to make a positive impact in their home country.

Ivanhoe Mines’ President and CEO, Marna Cloete, at the opening of the Centre of Excellence said:

“Ivanhoe Mines and our joint-venture partners at Kamoa-Kakula have committed to ‘mining with a greater purpose’ and creating long-term sustainable value within the communities in which we operate, and for the DRC as a whole.

“Part of this is developing a highly educated and skilled local workforce that can lead the DRC’s mining industry for generations to come. The young, vibrant Congolese population has a wealth of untapped potential and we have seen the success of this model by boosting Kamoa Copper’s workforce to 97% Congolese in just a few short years.

“We look forward to expanding the Kamoa Centre of Excellence and offering a wide variety of advanced education opportunities right here in Lualaba province.”