TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Diversified Canadian miner Teck Resources on Wednesday reported that it had made the first shipment of zinc and lead ore in concentrate from its restarted Pend Oreille operations, in north-eastern Washington State, across the border to its nearby Trail operations, in British Columbia, for processing.
Teck previously operated Pend Oreille between 2004 and 2009, when it was placed on care and maintenance due to unfavourable market conditions. Regulatory and environmental permits were in place and the mine facilities had been maintained since 2009 in anticipation of the restart.
The curtailment was necessary in response to “changing market conditions”, the company said at the time, when the 2009 Great Recession was gaining traction.
"The restart of our Pend Oreille zinc mine was completed on time and under budget and allows us to grow our zinc production at a time when global supply is constrained. We are pleased to be operating again in Washington State and helping to support jobs and economic activity in the community, region and state,” president and CEO Don Lindsay said.
Pend Oreille, operated by Teck Washington Incorporated, was expected to ramp up output to 44 000 t/y of zinc in concentrate. The re-opening of the mine would bring about $20-million of local investment during the start-up phase and support about 230 jobs in Pend Oreille County.