September 08, 2008

Perilya zinc production ramped up in Q3

Metals Insider reported that Australian producer Perilya increased contained zinc production to 35,700 tonnes in Q3 of 2007 from 25,600 tonnes in Q2 of 2007 and 30,200 tonnes Q3 of 2006 period.

Perilya said that the boost to Q3 of 2007, production came from the company’s Beltana mine, which produced 12,700 tonnes of contained zinc in direct shipping ore as compared with just 3,600 tonnes in Q2 when it first came into production.

Perilya is forecasting group zinc production of 120,000 tonnes to 140,000 tonnes for the financial year to June 2008. An extra boost to production will come from the Potosi mine, which produced its first development-stage ore during the third quarter.

Production in the last financial year 2006-2007, was 95,600 tonnes of contained zinc, lower than originally forecast after a fatal accident in January at the core Broken Hill mine interrupted loading activities and led to bottlenecks.