MMG Dugald River has a bright and long future in the region, the Mount Isa MineX heard on Wednesday.
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MMG Dugald River Engineering and Maintenance Manager John Young told the expo Dugald River, located 63km north of Cloncurry and was an underground mine operating since 2017 with an on-site ore processing plant producing zinc and lead concentrate which is transported by rail from Cloncurry to the Port of Townsville.
"Dugald River has an estimated mine life of 25 years and we aim to produce 1.7 million tonnes of ore a year and this year we are really striving towards two million tonnes," Mr Young said.
"We are still establishing and understanding the full potential of the site."
Mr Young said they were proud of their 2020 results.
"We achieved our target of 177,000 tonnes and we developed the underground mine a further 10km and we travelled 142,000km of haul truck mileage," he said.
"In 2020 we achieved one million tonnes zinc concentrate produced and exported."
Mr Young said MMG preferred to hire locally and advertise new roles to Cloncurry and Mount Isa residents in the first instance.
"Our trainee and apprenticeship programs aims to employ 10 locals each year," he said.
"Trainees and apprentices gain a nationally recognised qualification and can acquire ongoing employment in the roles of boilermaker, administration, electrician, maintenance fitter and process operator."
Mr Young said they spent over $4.6 million with local business in 2020.
"I have a clear appreciation of the reliance we place on local suppliers for parts, services and contracts," he said.
Mr Young gave the examples of two local partnerships, one with Cloncurry Agencies (Rodeo Saddle Shop) to help with airport transfers and GNH Engineering in Cloncurry, a one-stop shop for laser scanning, drafting, design and manufacturing, which supports processing, maintenance and new projects at Dugald River.
"The increased workload has allowed GNH to grow from two people out of a fabrication shed to employing 10 full time staff within Cloncurry and an opportunity to expand their business into new premises," Mr Young said.
"We are very proud of our association with GNH and a massive congratulations to them."
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