Australia’s New Century Resources posted a 135pc growth in zinc metal production at 28,123mt in the December quarter as compared to the prior year, and up by 7pc from the prior quarter. In the September quarter the company produced 26,171mt of zinc metal. In the December quarter 2018, the company produced 11,896mt of the metal.
The company declared guidance for the March quarter to be between 29,000mt–35,000mt.
| Zinc metal production (mt) | ||||
| Dec Qtr 2019 | Dec Qtr 2018 | % Change (yoy) | Sep Qtr 2019 | % Change (QoQ) |
| 28,123 | 11,896 | 136% | 26,171 | 7% |
Focus for the December quarter was on commissioning and stabilisation of the firm’s upgraded scavenger circuit within the processing plant. The upgrade was delivered approximately three weeks ahead of schedule, and on budget, late in October, with the slurry commissioning process taking approximately six weeks before stability of operations resumed.
New Century forecast global demand for zinc to grow by 1.5pc pa till 2030, which will translate into at least 20,000mt of additional new zinc metal production per year to meet demand.