LONDON, May 23 (Reuters) - Ivanhoe Mines ( IVPAF ) on

Friday disputed a statement by its Chinese partner about

problems at their co-owned Kakula copper mine in the Democratic

Republic of Congo after seismic activity.

"The press release by Zijin Mining refers to '..multiple

roof-falling and rib-spalling in the eastern section of the

mine,' Ivanhoe said.

"Ivanhoe Mines ( IVPAF ) does not agree with this statement", it said.

"Preliminary indications suggest that seismic

activity... resulted in a redistribution of forces underground

and caused 'scaling', or rock falls, from the sidewalls of

certain mining areas."

Ivanhoe had said on Tuesday that some mining operations had

been suspended at the Kakula underground mine on Sunday.

The Kamoa-Kakula mining complex is Africa's biggest

copper producer and one of the world's largest.

In Friday's update it added: "The operational teams are

currently focused on safely repairing damage caused to the

cables and pipework that support the underground pumping

infrastructure."

Zijin Mining Group Ltd warned in a statement

released earlier on Friday that the problems may have an

"adverse impact" on meeting annual production guidance of

520,000 to 580,000 metric tons in 2025 for the Kamoa-Kakula mine

complex.

The mine produced 437,000 tons last year.

Ivanhoe also disputed that, saying it would only be able to

know whether production guidance would need to be changed after

an investigation was completed.