Switzerland-based miner Glencore’s Australian mine posted a 21pc increase in lead production and 12pc rise in zinc production in 2019 from the prior year, while output in South America and Kazakstan dropped.
Glencore’s total zinc and lead production across its operations grew by 5pc and 2pc, respectively as a result of healthy growth at Lady Loretta mine. The mine produced 213,300mt of lead, up by 21pc from 175,800mt prior year. Zinc production was up 12pc to 597,600mt in 2019 from 532,500mt in the prior year. The company has attributed the growth to improved processing rates at Glencore’s McArthur River mine in the territory of Northern Territory.
In January 2018, Glencore re-opened Lady Loretta lead-zinc mine which has aided the production figures as 2019 was the first full year production for Lady Loretta post its closure in 2015.
Glencore’s zinc production from other mines including Kazakhstan fell by 14pc to 28,700mt in 2019 from the prior year, while lead production fell by 38pc to 34,400mt from the prior year. Also, production in the company’s South American units fell by 23pc to 32,300mt of lead in 2019 down by 9,600mt from the prior year.