Bauxite miner Metro Mining has met its market guidance for 2023 with 4.57-million wet metric tonnes (WMT) of high-grade bauxite mined and shipped to customers in the year, despite weather-related setbacks.
Tropical cyclone Jasper halted transhipping operations for ten days in December, while subsequent heavy rain and flooding affected the site.
Metro reported that the adverse weather conditions prevented the floating crane from resuming operations, however, geared loading continued until January 4 for a total of 4.61-million WMT shipped from April 2023.
The Metro Bauxite Hills operation has now entered its yearly shutdown period, during which critical maintenance on fixed, mobile and marine assets will be conducted and a new wobbler screening circuit will be installed as part of the seven-million-tonne-a-year expansion project.
Operations will resume in March.