Boliden had halted production at its Tara mine in Ireland
Swedish miner Boliden (STO: BOL) said on Wednesday it had halted production at its Tara mine in Ireland, Europe’s largest zinc mine, due to increased water flows into the operation.
Water began flooding the underground mine as a crew was drilling a pilot raisbore hole for a ventilation shaft.
Inflow volumes are exceeding the capacity of the dewatering infrastructure, the company said, adding it was unclear for how long production will be stopped.
In 2020, the Tara mine produced 127,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate and 14,000 tonnes of lead concentrate.
The news boosted zinc prices 2.2% to 3,420 a tonne on the London Metal Exchange. On Tuesday, the metal had recorded the biggest gain in a month as Glencore (LON: GLEN) announced it was preparing to shut down production in Italy.
Zinc production had already been hit by supply cuts announced by Trafigura, Nyrstar and Glencore, which sent prices up 13% in October.
Global zinc production is estimated at about 14 million tonnes this year, with about half of that expected to come from China, the world’s largest producer.
The metal is mainly used to galvanize steel or iron by applying a zinc coating to stop rusting. Galvanized steel is used in buildings, cars and electronics.
Source: mining.com
Latest Posts
- Terra Balcanica extends its polymetallic footprint with positive drill exploration in its flagship project in Bosnia
- St Charles Resources said it reached a final agreement to acquire Bulgaria-based private mining business Eastern Resources
- Europe, Can mining ever be green?
- Russia, Eligdar reports record gold production in 2022
- The exploitation of Portugal’s mineral resources
Popular Post
- How valuable is Kosovo’s mineral wealth?
- Jadar Lithium in Serbia gets four exploration licenses
- Conroy Gold and Anglo Asian Mining to open modern gold mine in Ireland by 2030
- GeoProMining Gold indirectly confirms its involvement in corrupt deal with Armenian government
- Lithium and rare earth elements discovered in Mongolia Khuut mine
- St Charles Resources said it reached a final agreement to acquire Bulgaria-based private mining business Eastern Resources
- Lydian, Amulsar Gold and a viable mining industry in Armenia
- After campaign to ban fracking, locals face ‘another carbon-heavy extractive industry
- Kaz Minerals Aktogay mine sulphide activated
- Solway copper mine Bucin Macedonia operations