Metro Mining (ASX:MMI) has achieved a new monthly record in September, with 780,000 wet metric tonnes (WMT) shipped from its Bauxite Hills Mine in Queensland.
The latest record represents an 8% increase from shipments in August, which totalled 720,000 WMT, and a 35% increase from September 2023.
Metro Mining, which has a market capitalisation of $250.12 million, says third quarter shipments totalled 2.13 million WMT with 3.65 million WMT shipped for the year to date. The company notes these results are in line with its annual guidance of 6 million to 6.4 million WMT.
In September 2024, Metro Mining also achieved a new daily mining record of 32,617 WMT, along with a new ocean-going vessel total loading time record with a 200,000-tonne vessel completed in nine days.
By the end of September, the two main expansion components — the wobbler screening circuit and offshore floating terminal (OFT) Ikamba — were operating at or above nameplate capacity.
The company says the September results were achieved despite a temporary under-keel clearance declaration in the channel which restricted barge tonnages. This is being resolved through the current bed levelling campaign.
Metro Mining notes two Caterpillar 992 front end wheel loaders were commissioned in August 2024, which allowed choke feeding of the wobbler screening circuit. This achieved an average throughput of 1,600 tonnes per hour.
OFT Ikamba offloading rates have increased and it is now achieving an average of 1,800 tonnes per hour, with a peak of 2,500 tonnes per hour.
Further, an additional assist tug has been mobilised to site to support marine operations.
Additional Scania R770 prime movers, capable of hauling up to 230 tonnes with a quad trailer configuration, are being mobilised to site to replace the lower powered fleet.
As the new flowsheet is optimised, along with more favourable ore moisture and tides, Metro expects to see similar gains in monthly production and shipping rates in the coming months.
Bauxite is considered a critical metal in the energy transition as the ore is used to make aluminium. The metal is also used to manufacture other industrial products, such as abrasives, cement, and chemicals.
Metro Mining is an independent bauxite producer and explorer that wholly owns the Bauxite Hills Mine, which operates on the Weipa bauxite plateau, 95km north of Weipa near the coast on the Skardon River.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Metro Mining
