CHINA August 17 2016 5:53 PM
BEIJING (Scrap Register): As a part of government efforts to clean up lead and zinc mining sector China has shut down all lead and zinc mines in Hunan province's Huayuan county. Hunan is main lead and zinc mining zone in China. The government has stopped the power supply to all lead and zinc mines in since August 15.
The exhausted resource mines will be asked to leave the market, while the reserves will be assessed and will be asked to take safety measures for the mineable industrial resources in place which is seen to be fraught with danger.
The county has a total of 26 zinc and lead mines, with proven lead and zinc resources estimated at 6.5 million tons. China is forecast to have a mined zinc deficit of 390,000 mt in 2016, widening from a deficit of 9,000 mt a year ago.
China's national mined zinc output is expected to increase 3.5 percent year on year to 4.4 million mt this year, while its net zinc concentrate import volume this year is estimated at 900,000 mt, down 40% from 1.496 million mt last year.
