Metro Mining records improved bauxite production and shipment through June quarter

Metro Mining reportedly ramped up its bauxite production and shipping from Bauxite Hills Mine in Far North Queensland through the June quarter. According to the report, the company reached the budgeted operating rates and generated consistent results on a daily basis.

Metro experienced some unexpected adverse swell conditions in late May, which, however, gradually improved and returned to expected conditions around the middle of June. Then on, the Australian mining company’s daily ship loading rates averaged over 15,000 wet metric tonnes (WMT) per day, including a daily record of 20,853 WMT.

In the month of April, Metro’s bauxite mining had averaged at 124,000 tonnes, which in May and June increased to 329,000 tonnes and 427,000 tonnes. With that, Metro’s total bauxite mining in June quarter came in at 880,000 tonnes.

The average bauxite shipment in April was at 151,000 tonnes, while that in May and June at 311,000 tonnes and 374,000 tonnes. In the whole of the quarter, Metro’s bauxite shipment totalled at 836,000 tonnes.

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The company estimates that it will now be able to maintain this level throughout the year and remain on track to meet its production and shipping guidance of 3.3 – 3.5M WMT.

Metro managing director and chief executive officer Simon Finnis said: “While it was a challenging start to the quarter, I am extremely proud of how the site team and our contract partners responded to resolving issues as they arose.

“All aspects of the operation have finished the quarter performing strongly, and we have laid the groundwork to meet our current production guidance.”