Qld: Century zinc project finally in production nine years on

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-1999
Qld: Century zinc project finally in production nine years on

The giant Century zinc project in north-west Queensland has begun pumping ore slurry
to the Gulf of Carpentaria, nine years after the deposit was first discovered.

A Pasminco spokesman says the pumping of ore slurry through the 304 km-long pipeline
to the port of Karumba began 10 days ago.

The first shipment of around 10,000 tonnes is expected to leave in the third week of December.

The mine is expected to reach its full annual production rate of 500,000 tonnes of
zinc concentrate by the end of 2001.

Rio Tinto Ltd discovered the zinc deposit in 1990 but the project was delayed by native
title disputes which were not resolved until 1997.

Pasminco bought the project in January 1997 for $345 million.

A P RTV rad/geb/smf/jn

KEYWORD: CENTURY (BRISBANE)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.