Reuters quoted a union representing workers at the operation of Tara zinc mine in Ireland as saying that Swedish copper and zinc miner and smelter, Boliden is considering placing the mine on care and maintenance.

The SIPTU trade union said that "Boliden is proposing to substantially reduce productivity related earnings and revise shift patterns. If the plan goes ahead with its proposal to put the mine on a care and maintenance basis from January 19th 2009, this will have a terrible impact on the economy of County Meath.”

As per Boliden's, the mine located 50 kilometers from Dublin is Europe's largest zinc mine. Some 2.7 million tonnes of ore are mined annually at Tara containing up to 200,000 tonnes of zinc and 40,000 tonnes of lead metal.
Officials at Boliden were not immediately available for comment.

(Sourced from: Reuters)