According to a May 26 announcement from Ivanhoe Mines: Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – Following the initial announcement on May 20, 2025, regarding the suspension of underground mining operations at the Kakula Mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Robert Friedland, Executive Co-Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF), Weibao Hao, Co-Chairman, and Marna Cloete, President and Chief Executive Officer, issued a statement on May 26 regarding the latest operational updates at the Kamoa-Kakula Mine. Senior management of Ivanhoe Mines, along with a team of world-class geotechnical experts, continues to conduct a comprehensive mine investigation to understand the causes and impacts of the seismic activity. In the past few days, intermittent seismic activity has persisted in the Kakula underground mine. In light of the recent seismic events, underground operations were suspended again on Saturday, May 25, 2025. All employees have been safely evacuated to the surface, and mobile equipment has been removed from underground work areas. The company has always prioritized the safety of its employees and contractors, and to date, there have been no lost-time injuries. Preliminary indications suggest that seismic activity at Kakula may continue for several weeks, which will affect underground access operations and extend the suspension of underground mining at Kakula. Due to the impact on underground pumping and power infrastructure, there has been a significant increase in water inflow at the Kakula underground mine. With the support of Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining, Kamoa Copper is developing a detailed dewatering plan, including the procurement of new pumping equipment to enhance pumping capacity from the surface. Ivanhoe thanks its Chinese partners, Zijin Mining and CITIC Metal, for their significant assistance in procuring pumping equipment. Marna Cloete, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ivanhoe Mines, commented, "I would like to express my deep gratitude to our dedicated employees who have continued to work under challenging conditions during the recent seismic events, demonstrating remarkable resilience and dedication. The safety of our employees is our top priority, and achieving zero injuries in such a severe environment is a testament to the professionalism and focus of every employee at Kamoa Copper." "During the suspension of underground mining operations at the Kakula Mine, we are focusing our efforts on maintaining pumping and water management facilities, including expediting the procurement of relevant equipment for surface dewatering. We are working around the clock with world-leading geotechnical experts to investigate the causes of the issues we are facing and develop solutions." "We are making every effort to retain significant flexibility to sustain operations at the Kakula beneficiation plant through surface ore stockpiling or to redeploy Kakula employees and equipment to the unaffected and ongoing operations at the Kamoa Mine." Robert Friedland, founder and Co-Executive Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines, added, "We will draw wisdom and experience from the events of the past week. Ivanhoe Mines and our partner, Zijin Mining, are jointly operating this complex, high-grade, and previously unheard-of sediment-hosted copper deposit. This incident will provide us with valuable insights into geotechnical engineering and the maintenance of critical pumping facilities, enabling us to avoid similar impacts in the future and safely resume mining operations at Kakula... These lessons will comprehensively guide our work at Kamoa and Western Foreland." "I remind readers that SpaceX, which currently undertakes approximately 90% of humanity's space launch missions, did not achieve its current success overnight. Every setback has brought new knowledge to their team, leading to greater achievements. Therefore, we are approaching the operation of Kamoa-Kakula with the same mindset. Together, we plan to resume operations and production, making them safer and more robust than ever before." As some underground areas have been confirmed safe, personnel can return to work. The primary tasks are to inspect, repair, and restart the pump stations and associated pipelines, as well as the substation and related cables. Repair work continues in the shallow western section of the Kakula mine, where the drainage flow rate is 1,000 liters per second. The engineering team at Kamoa Copper is focusing on restoring the drainage capacity, aiming to exceed 3,000 liters per second, which will be sufficient to maintain stable groundwater levels in the area. Meanwhile, the management team is planning to install permanent, large-power pumping systems that can be operated from the surface in all mining areas. The surface infrastructure at Kakula, including the Phase 1 and Phase 2 beneficiation plants and the one-step copper smelter, remains completely unaffected. The Phase 1 and Phase 2 beneficiation plants are currently processing ore from surface stockpiles. Mining activities at the Kamoa underground mine and the adjacent Phase 3 beneficiation plant continue to operate normally and remain unaffected. The 2025 production and cost guidance for Kamoa-Kakula, as well as the capacity ramp-up plan for the one-step copper smelter, have been temporarily withdrawn pending re-evaluation. Ivanhoe Mines will provide further updates as more information becomes available. Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining continue to maintain a strong and resilient partnership at the joint venture level, jointly committed to restoring safe production at Kakula as soon as possible.

"The furnace was ignited on April 2, the first batch of copper anode was produced on April 12, the first batch of anode plates was sold on April 15, the key milestone of 400 mt/day was surpassed on April 19, and the phase peak of 534 mt/day was achieved on April 24..." In the striving spring of April 2025, Yimen Copper Industry welcomed the completion of the energy-saving and emission-reduction project for anode refining, marking a historic moment of successful one-time load test. This event signified the end of the 30-year era of blister copper products and the beginning of the anode copper era for industrial transformation and upgrading. The capacity, quality, added value, and comprehensive utilization rate of copper products have significantly improved, with production processes becoming more environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and low-carbon. The journey from blueprint to realization of Yimen Copper Industry's anode refining energy-saving and emission-reduction project not only embodies the wisdom and sweat of hundreds of builders but also carries the persistent pursuit of sustainable development by a 30-year-old smelter. This is a tough battle for technological upgrade, a practice of environmental protection concepts, and a touching ode to unity, cooperation, and hard struggle. Project Initiation: The Fearless "Pioneer" Since the operation of the 100,000 mt blister copper environmental protection and efficient technological transformation project on April 16, 2017, Yimen Copper Industry has seen continuous growth in production and profits, leveraging its advantages in "processing low-grade and miscellaneous materials" in production processes. Facing the favorable development situation, Yimen Copper Industry did not rest on its laurels but focused on the long-term development of the enterprise, deeply analyzed its shortcomings, and actively met challenges. Considering the small production capacity, short industry chain, weak risk resistance, environmental risks in the blister copper casting process, the need for remelting of blister copper ingots in the next process, and severe heat energy waste, the company initiated the anode refining energy-saving and emission-reduction project and incorporated it into the enterprise's "14th Five-Year Plan" for follow-up and implementation. Through scientific demonstration, the construction content of Yimen Copper Industry's anode refining energy-saving and emission-reduction project includes the construction of two 180 mt anode furnaces and one set of 70 mt/h double disc casting system, along with the improvement of auxiliary facilities such as flue gas treatment systems, water supply and drainage systems, and power supply and distribution systems. After the completion of the project, blister copper will be purified into anode copper, further compensating for the short industry chain, achieving energy-saving and emission reduction, promoting green circular development, enhancing the core competitiveness of the enterprise, and embarking on a path of sustainable development. In advancing the project, great efforts were made in feasibility studies, energy assessments, and environmental impact assessments. The cadres and employees always kept the project construction goals in mind, worked overtime to perfect the approval documents for each link, and vigorously pushed forward the pre-construction preparations. With the coordination and promotion of the parent company and local government, and the hard work of the project personnel, the project received the environmental impact assessment approval on November 20, 2024. Construction: Capable and Resilient "Strivers" On December 30, 2024, the anode refining energy-saving and emission reduction project of Yimen Copper Industry received approval to commence and started smoothly, with a construction period of six months. Thanks to thorough preparation in advance, the project entered a "decisive battle" state right from the start. As construction fully unfolded, challenges arose one after another. The first issue was the difficulty in maneuvering lifting equipment due to the relatively narrow site, along with the complexity of managing safety for multiple overlapping operations. Additionally, the tight schedule and heavy workload, compounded by the fact that the construction period spanned the Chinese New Year holiday, led to significant personnel turnover and disruptions in equipment transportation. The construction proceeded concurrently with ongoing production, creating a "dual-front" operation that posed significant on-site management difficulties. In the face of these challenges, the cadres and employees of Yimen Copper Industry and the contractors treated the construction site as their home, working, eating, and often staying there around the clock. Overtime became the norm, and they willingly gave up holidays and rest days, working in shifts 24/7, writing many touching stories of dedication. The contractor's workers showed great effort, like tireless "spiders," climbing cylindrical furnaces and towering beams, battling at various work sites, building a steel fortress of the project with their hard work and sweat. Yimen Copper Industry saw the full participation of its veteran, middle-aged, and young staff. Deputy Chief Engineer Qi Yonghui and Project Technical Director Feng Gao, both born in the 1970s, arrived early every morning and left late at night, steadfastly overseeing safety on the project site. Despite being in their 50s, they demonstrated strong will and rigorous conduct, setting an example for the younger generation. Qian Hongsen, head of the Equipment and Energy Department, born in the 1980s, was involved in the entire process from project initiation, approval, construction, to commissioning. He worked tirelessly, much like an indefatigable perpetual motion machine, dedicating himself to the project. Fu Duyi, a mid-level manager born in the 1990s, threw himself into the work with the zeal of a "workaholic." He followed up on the project progress daily, often working until three or four in the morning, and then reporting to work on time the next day. His disheveled hair, a sign of frequent late nights, bore witness to his dedication. Even when his wife needed prenatal check-ups, he missed them, feeling guilty but never backing down. The company's Party, labor union, and youth league organizations all pitched in. The "Zhongtong Pioneer" Party member task forces of each branch planted the Party flag on the front lines of the project, participating in urgent and challenging tasks such as cable laying and safety supervision alongside the contractors. The labor union provided food and drinks, showing deep care for the workers toiling in high temperatures. Young members of the Communist Youth League, wearing "volunteer red," helped move materials and clean the environment, contributing their youthful sweat to the project. At the construction site, touching stories were abundant, embodying Yimen Copper Industry's team culture of "being together, heart and soul, and working together," forming a powerful force driving the safe and efficient advancement of the project. After all staff worked day and night, the anode furnace was started for preheating on April 2. On April 10, the project was completed in exactly 100 days, 80 days ahead of schedule. Trial Production: The "Light Chasers" of Dedication and Contribution After one day of on-site integration, commissioning, and debugging, at 1:56 a.m. on April 12, as the first batch of molten copper was successfully poured into the sizzling 180t anode copper mold, the project's load test with material feeding was a success. At 7:36 p.m. on April 12, with the completion of heating and commissioning of the backend process, Yimen Copper produced its first batch of anode copper. During the days of trial production and debugging, the on-site staff were excited, full of anticipation, and faced immense hardships. To ensure the success of the load test, Yu Xiaolv, the factory director of the pyrometallurgy plant, and Ding Yonghua, the operations manager, led the operations team to work continuously for three days and nights, taking only short naps when exhausted. At the production debugging site, several newly recruited college graduates from the "post-90s" and "post-00s" generations followed the on-site mentors, busy with various tasks—sometimes lifting and installing the guide chutes, sometimes cleaning the copper molds, and sometimes moving heavy objects on site. Despite blisters forming on their hands, they persevered. They learned the key points of production technology from their mentors while working, actively immersing themselves in the project's "crucible." At this moment, "melting top-tier technology and refining top-tier talents" became tangible. The trial production and debugging work received strong support from the parent company and sister units. Southwest Copper, Southeast Copper, and others dispatched capable personnel to provide on-site support. They debugged equipment while mentoring apprentices, working tirelessly from dawn to dusk, silently contributing their efforts and expertise. Southwest Copper and Yunnan Zhongse Nonferrous Metals provided strong support to Yimen Copper in cultivating talents for anode copper smelting. As the debugging work progressed, the quality and daily production of Yimen Copper's anode copper continued to improve. Since April 15, multiple batches of anode copper have been delivered, with the products receiving positive feedback and favour from downstream enterprises. Since the load test of the entire project began, there have been no unplanned shutdowns. Daily copper production has continued to rise, demonstrating a safe, stable, rapid construction, smooth commissioning, and effective outcome. For many smelters that have already achieved cathode copper production, anode copper production is merely a front-end process. However, for Yimen Copper, which has been in operation for 30 years, it represents not only a product upgrade but also the culmination of 30 years of steady and unremitting efforts, serving as the cornerstone for the company's long-term development. Looking back at Yimen Copper, since the production of its first batch of blister copper on October 29, 1995, it has undergone multiple technological transformations. The annual production capacity of copper products has increased from 10,000 mt to 50,000 mt, 100,000 mt, and now 150,000 mt. Although the scale of improvement may seem relatively small, each step has been taken with solid determination. Each step represents Yimen Copper's commitment to green and low-carbon development, a vivid practice of promoting new quality productive forces, and a testament to the hard work and dedication of Yimen Copper's cadres and employees in creating happiness through their efforts.

On April 27, the first phase of the CNI nickel-iron RKEF project in Indonesia, undertaken by the International Business Department of Minmetals Twenty-Three Metallurgical Construction, successfully produced nickel-iron, marking the official entry of the project into the trial production phase. Behind this significant milestone was the unwavering perseverance and dedication of the project team, who overcame the "three major challenges" of rotary kiln hoisting, electric furnace construction, and timely iron production over more than 700 days and nights, setting multiple new records for the company in the field of overseas metallurgical construction. Meticulous Successful Completion of Rotary Kiln Hoisting The rotary kiln for the first phase of the CNI nickel-iron RKEF installation project in Indonesia, with a diameter of 5.8 meters and a length of 130 meters, is the core equipment of the RKEF nickel-iron smelting process. Its installation quality directly affects the normal operation of the entire production line. The team innovatively adopted the "segmented pre-assembly + laser positioning" method, controlling the installation accuracy to the millimeter level. The project department organized multiple discussions, refinements, and revisions of the hoisting plan, developing a safe, economical, and efficient hoisting scheme. At the same time, they fully coordinated with the supervision and construction parties, carefully reviewing each construction phase. Before hoisting, comprehensive inspections were conducted on the crane, ground, slings, and equipment body, and all workers were briefed on safety techniques. The project began on-site bearing seat grinding in November 2023; in December 2023, the base and support rollers were hoisted, and the cylinder was assembled on the ground; in January 2024, the first section of the cylinder was officially hoisted, and over 1,000 mt of the kiln body was hoisted within one month, completing the aerial welding of the cylinder in just 10 days, setting a new industry record for efficient construction. Chasing the Wind and the Moon Ensuring Smooth Progress of Electric Furnace Construction The rectangular electric furnace involved in the first phase of the CNI nickel-iron RKEF installation project in Indonesia had only been constructed by China Fifteenth Metallurgical Construction domestically, and the furnace for this project was larger in scale and more complex in process. As a key piece of equipment, the construction of the electric furnace required immense effort from the project team. Due to the remote location of the project, material procurement faced numerous constraints. To address urgent material shortages, the project department implemented a multi-point layout strategy, stationing procurement personnel domestically and in Jakarta and Kendari to ensure timely material supply. During the Chinese New Year, the project team remained on duty, implementing precise strategies and completing the installation of the electric furnace and rotary kiln with high quality. Particularly in key processes such as the refractory brick laying of the electric furnace and the refractory material pouring of the rotary kiln, the work was completed 10 days ahead of schedule, with quality indicators exceeding national standards, laying a solid foundation for the successful start of production of the electric furnace and also filling the company's gap in the field of rectangular electric furnace construction. On March 7, the 72MVA rectangular electric furnace was successfully started. ENFI, the general contractor of the project, sent a letter of commendation to the project team, praising the project management team for its outstanding professional capabilities and the spirit of overcoming difficulties during the project construction. The letter stated that the team "ensured efficient contract performance through scientific management" and "strictly controlled quality throughout the entire process," and specifically mentioned that "despite the compressed project duration, the construction tasks were completed ahead of schedule, fully demonstrating your company's strength in the field of metallurgical construction." Pursuing Excellence Striving to Achieve the Tapping Target The "April 30 tapping" period target set by the owner was unanimously regarded as "nearly impossible to achieve" by the supervisor and the general contractor. The project department implemented a "two-shift" operation mode and established an "hourly" progress control system. All members worked day and night in a fierce race against time. Focusing on the goal of tapping on schedule, the project department collaborated with the general contractor, supervisor, and other relevant units to work backwards from the project deadline, subdivide the construction characteristics of each subproject, and communicate and coordinate in advance the supply of personnel, machinery, and material spare parts. From the successful power transmission to the electric furnace on April 6, to the successful slag tapping on April 18, and then to the successful production of ferronickel on April 27, the project team set a record for the company's large-scale rectangular ferronickel electric furnace, taking only 21 days from the start of power transmission to the production of ferronickel. The tapping period was achieved 3 days ahead of the original plan. Like a boat navigating the vast sea or a horse standing atop Kunlun Mountain, the International Business Department of Minmetals 23rd Construction Group Co., Ltd. will stride forward with the tide of the times, seizing the opportunity to accelerate the construction of a new highland for metallurgical construction under the "Belt and Road" Initiative. Adhering to the development philosophy of cooperation, mutual benefit, and win-win results, the department will introduce more Chinese solutions, technologies, and construction practices to the participating countries.

Rio Tinto, in collaboration with Indium Corporation, has reportedly extracted the first batch of primary gallium in its Vaudreuil alumina refinery in Quebec, the only refinery in Canada, as part of the move to produce commercial quantities of critical and strategic minerals present in the bauxite.

Beijing Solar PV Network learned that recently, foreign media reported that Nippon Energy, a Japanese PV EPC company, announced plans to establish a PV module manufacturing plant in Dubai with an annual capacity of 1GW, which is intended to produce HJT PV modules. To support this plan, Nippon Energy has recently acquired a PV module enterprise established in 2016 in Dubai.

Polaris Solar PV Network learned that recently, foreign media reported that Nippon Energy, a Japanese PV EPC company, announced plans to establish a PV module manufacturing plant in Dubai with an annual capacity of 1 GW, which is intended to produce HJT PV modules. To support this plan, Nippon Energy has recently acquired a PV module enterprise established in 2016 in Dubai. It is reported that Nippon Energy is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and primarily provides solar energy solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial projects, with extensive business operations in the UAE and Pakistani markets. In the UAE market, the company also offers PV investment and leasing solutions. Regarding the investment plan for the 1 GW PV module plant in Dubai, Nippon Energy stated that the project aligns with the UAE's vision and the COP28 initiative, demonstrating the company's firm commitment to sustainable development and its dedication to supporting the UAE's long-term environmental goals.