New owners believe they can restore north-west Queensland’s Century mine site to a place among the world’s top 10 zinc producers through a $113 million tailings reprocessing operation.
New Century Resources today announced the results of a restart feasibility study, completed in collaboration with Sedgman, including detailed economic analysis on a large scale tailings reprocessing operation using existing site infrastructure.
Its board has approved an immediate progression to the construction, refurbishment and re-commissioning phase, with the aim of starting production at Century in July 2018.
Total site-based personnel are expected to reach 135 for construction, and 238 in operations, including crews to operate the associated export facilities at Karumba port and the M.V. Wunma transhipment vessel.
It is expected to cost $50 million to reach production at an initial throughput rate of 8Mpta, with a further $63 million to be invested over a 15 month-period to ramp up to 15Mtpa.
Steady state production would be 507,000tpa of zinc concentrate at 52 per cent zinc over an initial 6.3-year mine life, based on hydraulic mining of the Century tailings deposit only.
The company says defined in-situ zinc deposits at Silver King and East Fault Block, combined with confirmed mineralisation at South Block and Watsons Lode, show clear potential to extend base metal operations beyond that phase.
Based on the operating cost estimates, New Century Resources believes its tailings deposit venture will be the one of the lowest cost primary zinc operations in the world.
“This is a fantastic achievement by the New Century team, completing both the Restart Feasibility Study and upgrade of the Century Tailings Deposit to an Ore Reserve within just four months of listing on the ASX,” New Century Resources managing director Patrick Walta said.
“The projected NPV (Net Present Value) of A$1.3 billion and IRR (Internal rate of return) of 270 per cent is unmatched in the mining industry and shows New Century is a significant investment opportunity providing material exposure to the zinc market.
“New Century is also in the envious position of having substantial funding flexibility, allowing the company to aggressively progress the restarting of operations, with the aim of establishing itself as a globally significant zinc producer in approximately eight months’ time.
“I would like to thank all members of the New Century Feasibility Team as well as the team from Sedgman, who have worked diligently to confirm that the proposed Century restart represents one of the most exciting near term base metal projects in the world.”
Former owner MMG ended processing operations at Century in early 2016 following depletion of the ore reserves from the original ‘Big Zinc’ ore body.
In March this year, Century Bull entered into binding agreements for the progressive acquisition of the Century zinc mine and all associated infrastructure, including the Karumba port facility.
Attila Resources initially purchased 70 per cent of the project from Century Bull and in July recommenced trading on the ASX under the name New Century Resources.
