Australian mining company Oz Minerals increased its annual copper production guidance, owing to rising volumes from one of its new mines, according to the company’s Q2 output report.
Andrew Cole, the company’s managing director and chief executive officer, said, despite health-related restrictions across operations, the team delivered strong production in the quarter and has now adjusted to the ‘new normal’ way of working.
The company’s copper concentrate production fell by 15pc to 24,577mt in Q2 2020 from 28,525mt in the prior-year quarter. Out of this, its Prominent Hill mine in South Australia produced 15,056mt while Carrapateena in Gawler Craton, South Australia produced 7,170mt. The company’s Antas in Carajas mine, Brazil produced 2,342mt.
For the first six months of 2020, copper concentrate output stood at 44,788mt compared to 55,967mt in H1 2019.
The company has raised production guidance for copper ore by 5,000mt to 88,000-105,000mt for the year, with Carrapateena’s output increasing 187pc from 2,495mt in Q1 to 7,170mt this quarter. The mine produced its first concentrate in December 2019 and is ramping up mining activity at the location.