MMG Dugald River mine has produced and exported one million tonnes of zinc concentrate in just three years.
The company celebrated the milestone in Townsville last Thursday and it signals a strong foundation for ongoing operations, predicted to continue for 20-plus years, after a good third quarter result.
Mining executives presented commemorative plaques to supply chain stakeholders, including the Port of Townsville.
Townsville Port chief operations officer Drew Penny said the milestone was a testament to the production team of Dugald River.
"This is a significant achievement for MMG and it is great to see a project of this magnitude running so successfully and sustaining jobs in the region from Cloncurry to Townsville,'' Mr Penny said.
"I'd also like to congratulate MMG and their stevedore, Northern Stevedoring Services in building efficiencies and achieving some impressive loading rates at the port."
MMG Dugald River is situated 60 kilometres north of Cloncurry and is one of the world's top ten zinc mines.
Mine general manager Tim Akroyd said the achievement continues to cement the company's global presence.
"The success of this accomplishment is attributable to our hard-working team on site, and our strong partnerships with Wagners, Aurizon and NSS,'' Mr Akroyd said.
"Together we have been able to achieve greater efficiency and accommodate an increase in production volumes above our original estimates."
Most of the concentrate is exported to China, but it also ends up in markets in Japan and Korea.
The North West Minerals Province, which is one of the world's richest mineral-producing regions, contains about 75 per cent of Queensland's base metal and minerals while the Port of Townsville is Australia's largest exporter of zinc, copper, lead, sugar and fertiliser.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
