The first shipments of zinc concentrates from the Century Mine restart to offtake partners have been delayed until December due to overly high lead content, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Fastmarkets MB.
The project, which officially opened last month, generated 7,100 tonnes of zinc concentrates out of tailing reprocessing in September, according to a regulatory filing on Monday October 1. The site was once the world's largest primary zinc mine. Fastmarkets MB understands the initial zinc concentrates produced by New Century have not met the specifications agreed for long-term offtake agreements between the company and partners Nyrstar, MRI, Mercuria, Transamine and Concord Resources. "The lead is very high so they can't allocate it into their normal contracts [with offtake partners," one source with knowledge of the dealings said. Accordingly, initial production at the tailings reprocessing facility has been sold on the spot market directly to Chinese smelter buyers. A total 20,000 tonnes of "commission grade" concentrates produced in September...