Lead Mine Production to Increase to 5mt

Global lead mine production is fore­cast to reach about five­million tonnes by 2020 from 4.57­million tonnes as demand increases, representing a compound annual growth rate of 2.1%, says global research and consulting firm GlobalData, noting the automobile indus­ try as a major demand driver.

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Global lead mine production is fore­cast to reach about five­million tonnes by 2020 from 4.57­million tonnes as demand increases, representing a compound annual growth rate of 2.1%, says global research and consulting firm GlobalData, noting the automobile indus­ try as a major demand driver.

GlobalData’s report, ‘Global Lead Mining to 2020’, published in January, states that this growth can be attributed to various upcoming lead projects, including base met­ als mining, explora tion and development company MMG’s Dugald River project, in north­west Queensland, Australia.

The optimised mine plan will support an operation of 1.7­million tons a year with yearly production of about 170 000 t.

The mine will operate over an estimated 25 years while the orebody remains open at depth. The project is now 45% complete and remains on target for first concentrate production in the first half of 2018.