Sibanye-Stillwater Suspends Century Zinc Operations in Australia Following Bushfire Damage

Sibanye-Stillwater

South African mining giant Sibanye-Stillwater has announced the temporary suspension of its operations at the Century Zinc Mine in Queensland, Australia, due to damage caused by a regional bushfire. The company expects operations to remain halted until 16 November as extensive repairs are conducted.

The bushfire resulted in the destruction of critical surface piping infrastructure, including feed and water lines that connect the hydraulic mining system to the processing plant, as well as other essential service lines. Despite these setbacks, primary infrastructure such as the processing plant, hydro mine, underground slurry pipeline, airport, and camp facilities were successfully protected from fire damage.

Impact on Zinc Production

The suspension of operations is expected to result in a significant reduction in fourth-quarter zinc metal production. Sibanye-Stillwater estimates a loss of approximately 9,680 tonnes, impacting its ability to meet the 2023 production target of 87,000-100,000 tonnes of payable zinc.

In the first half of 2023, the Century Zinc Mine produced 42,000 tonnes of zinc, reaching the lower end of the company’s full-year guidance. Production earlier this year was already affected by heavy rains in the first quarter.

Looking Ahead

Sibanye-Stillwater's commitment to restoring operations swiftly highlights the challenges posed by natural disasters in the mining sector. With repairs underway and operations expected to resume mid-November, the company aims to mitigate further impacts on its annual production goals.

About Century Zinc Mine

The Century Zinc Mine is one of Australia's significant zinc producers, with its operations contributing significantly to the global zinc market. Owned by Sibanye-Stillwater, the mine employs advanced hydraulic mining techniques to extract ore for processing.

Stay tuned to The Metalnomist for updates on this developing story and other insights into the metals industry.