“Shipments of lead concentrate will now proceed on a regular basis with the next export due at the end of August,” the company said.

Pasminco expects to ship about 40,000t of lead concentrate by the end of the year from Century, along with 500,000t of zinc concentrate, which equates to around 8% of western world zinc production and 30% of Australian production.

Mining reserves currently total 98 million tones grading 11.6% zinc, 1.7% lead and 46 grams per tonne silver, sufficient for a mine life of about 20 years based on existing operating parameters.