UK-headquartered Central Asia Metals’ copper production at Kounrad was solid according to the company with 3,334mt produced in Q2 (June quarter) and 6,214mt of copper produced in H1, according a company release.
At the company’s Sasa unit, mill shutdowns in Q1 affected the half-yearly production of lead and zinc. In H1 2021, production of both lead and zinc fell by 9pc and 7pc, respectively.
Sasa receives approximately 84pc of the value of its zinc in concentrate and approximately 95pc of the value of its lead in concentrate from smelters. In Q2, payable production of zinc was reported at 4,665mt, and lead was 6,452mt. Total payable production for H1 2021 stood at 9,486mt of zinc and 13,117mt of lead.
The rise in metal prices since September has supported the company’s financials in H1.
Production
Copper production was strong in Q2 with production 16pc higher than the prior quarter. However, H1 production slipped by 6pc for copper, yet the company remains firm on meeting annual guidance. Lead and zinc production fell in Q2 from Q1and in H1 2021 compared to the prior year period, due to issues at Sasa.
| Production (mt) | Q2 2021 | Q1 2021 | Change | H1 2021 | H1 2020 | Change |
| Copper | 3,334 | 2,880 | 16% | 6,214 | 6,607 | -6% |
| Zinc | 5,549 | 5,742 | -3% | 11,292 | 12,203 | -7% |
| Lead | 6,791 | 7,016 | -3% | 13,807 | 15,140 | -9% |
Central Asia Metals owns 100pc of the copper project at Kounrad in central Kazakhstan and 100pc of the Sasa zinc-lead mine in North Macedonia.