What will become one of the world’s largest zinc mines will open officially today, Wednesday, November 8.
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MMG’s Dugald River, situated 70km north of Cloncurry, sits on one of the world’s highest-grade known zinc deposits, and is predicted to be one of the top ten zinc mines on the planet when operational.
It doesn’t hurt that zinc prices are soaring at the moment – up 30 percent in the last year alone - and the optimised mine plan will support a 1.7 Mtpa operation with annual production of around 170,000 tonnes of zinc in zinc concentrate, plus by-products.
The mine will operate over an estimated 25 years while the ore body remains open at depth.
Construction of the Dugald River zinc project is ahead of schedule with production of first concentrate now expected soon and the mine is expected to generate 400 jobs.
In its third quarter 2017 report MMG said the Dugald River zinc project was 89% complete and is on track for first production by the end of 2017.
“The total development cost is now expected to be between US$550-$570 million, significantly lower than previous guidance of US$600-$620 million,” the company said.
MMG will be celebrating that fact today with a networking event at the Cloncurry Shire Council offices for invited guests in the morning followed by a tour of the Dugald River mine site and official opening ceremony.
Stay tuned to the North West Star for a report on the day’s proceedings.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
