VOLCAN COMPA?IA MINERA : baisse de production du zinc en P?rou

BAISSE DE PRODUCTION DU ZINC EN PEROU, POSSIBILITE D'UNE BAISSE SUPPLEMENTAIRE

Malgré des prix élevés (d'au moins 4 200 $ US la tonne métrique), les volumes de production du zinc en Pérou ont diminué. La production sur la période janvier-juillet 2006 est en baisse de 6,6 % par rapport à celui de la même période 2005.

Cette baisse est principalement attribuable au fait qu'en 2006 la Compañia Minera Antamina SAA a privilégié l'extraction du cuivre et du molybdène. Ceci pourrait changer si la mine poursuit ses projets de faire repartir l'extraction du zinc en 2007.

Volcan Compañía Minera SAA has produced 3.5% less volume than in the January-July period. It expects to revert this trend through a series of investments that will improve production levels and future costs. Already in October it has managed to improve its zinc and silver volumes.

Volcan is in the process of approval for its 2007 reinvestment plan, which will substantially increase extraction.

The lag of zinc production in relation to demand is a general trend. The 2006 Lisbon zinc trade study group last month identified a 150,000 MT deficit in the world market for 2007. Until Antamina concretes its plans and returns to zinc, Volcan's reinvestment initiative is the best option for a recovery of Peruvian zinc production volumes in a context of ever improving prices. This has become evident in a large increase of its silver production during the second term of the year, as lead - silver underground zones have been coming, by accident of nature, first.

Contacto:

Carmen Saenz

[email protected]