According to Mining News Pro - New Century has announced that zinc concentrate is now being delivered via the company’s recently developed slurry pipeline to the Karumba Port Facility for export.

Zinc concentrate is being pumped through the slurry pipeline for delivery to the company’s port facility in Queensland, a significant step that allows the company to expect its first revenue from concentrate sales later this month.

The vessel that will ship New Century’s concentrate from the port, M.V. Wunma, has gone through drydocking and refurbishment and is also set to commence shipping in September.

New Century completed commissioning of the 304km pipeline in July 2018 for transport of the concentrate from the mine at Lawn Hill to the Port of Karumba in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

It is the latest milestone for the Perth-based company’s Century zinc mine project, which is hoped will become one of the top 10 global zinc producers in the world once it reaches full capacity. The mine was purchased by New Century in early 2017 following closure by previous owner MMG the year before.

The company anticipates exports via the port of 300,000–400,000 tonnes per year (t/y) over a six-and-a-half year mine life. The company recently secured a $40 million debt facility with NAB for further expansion of the mine.