MMG’s Dugald River zinc project gains “prescribed project” status

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Image credit: www.mmg.com

State Development Minister and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham has granted the $1.4 billion Dugald River zinc project a “prescribed project” status to help cut red tape and create hundreds of jobs in north Queensland.

Image credit: www.mmg.com
Image credit: www.mmg.com

“Projects like Dugald River are critical to economic development and job creation in the north-west during these tough times caused by ongoing resource commodity price lows. Granting it prescribed project status will allow the Coordinator-General to assist MMG to navigate processes and timely approvals through government,” Dr Lynham said.

“This is tangible evidence of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to winning jobs and infrastructure in the north-west. This is more action for the north-west, on top of our accelerated works program in Mount Isa and the North West Minerals Province Taskforce.”

Located 85 km north-east of Mt Isa, MMG’s Dugald River project is one of the world’s largest and highest grade known undeveloped zinc-lead-silver deposits with a resource of 53 million tonnes.

Adertisement

At peak production of 160,000 tonnes of zinc a year, it would be one of the world’s top 10 zinc mines.

The project includes the mine, a concentrator processing plant, maintenance workshops, accommodation and administration, and road, rail and port logistics to export from Townsville.

MMG said is it currently finalising its workforce makeup, which will comprise of about 400 employees, including north-west locals, once the zinc mine is operational.

The company hopes to start construction in mid-2016, with production anticipated to begin in the first half of 2018.