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ZIJIN Mining Group’s Bisha copper-zinc mine in Eritrea has suspended ore processing because of a fuel shortage, potentially delaying concentrate shipments to customers, Bloomberg reported.
Some buyers of Bisha’s zinc and copper concentrates were told last week that the stoppage could last as long as four weeks, according to people familiar with the matter.
The processing plant had been shut for routine maintenance, which was brought forward from around the end of the year because of a “temporary, regional fuel shortage”, Zijin told Bloomberg.
The Chinese miner said fuel supplies had since stabilised and that it would arrange production-related work “in an orderly manner”. It did not say when processing would resume.
Eritrea’s information minister Yemane Gebremeskel said the plant had been closed for maintenance and operations were expected to restart shortly, citing the mine’s management.
Zijin is the majority owner and operator of Bisha, while an Eritrean government mining entity owns 45%.
The mine produced about 83,000 tons of zinc and 23,000 tons of copper last year.
The disruption comes amid renewed tensions between Eritrea and neighbouring Ethiopia. The two countries have severed diplomatic ties in recent weeks and accused each other of hostilities.
Bisha’s stoppage also comes at a time of tight zinc supply. Zinc prices on the London Metal Exchange have risen more than 20% this year as shortages of mined ore constrain refined production, particularly in China.