Central Asia Metals plc said it was on course to meet its full-year production guidance at its copper recovery plant in Kazakhstan and zinc-lead mine in North Macedonia.
KOUNRAD
Chief executive Nigel Robinson said the company had recorded a strong performance during Q1 at Kounrad in Kazakhstan.
Central Asia Metals’ copper production at the dump leach, solvent extraction and electro-winning (SX-EW) copper recovery plant was 3,024 tonnes.
Copper sales during Q1 2022 were 2,906t.
| Metal production (tonnes) | Q1 2022 | Q1 2021 |
| Copper | 3,024 | 2,880 |
| Zinc | 5,240 | 5,742 |
| Lead | 6,736 | 7,016 |
SASA
Sasa zinc in concentrate production was 5,240t, with Sasa lead in concentrate production of 6,736t.
In Q1, mined and processed ore were 197,501t and 197,986t respectively.
Q1 2022 metallurgical recoveries were 84.3% for zinc and 93.3% for lead.
In Q1 2022, Central Asia Metals produced 10,519t of concentrate containing 49.81% zinc and 9,488t of concentrate containing 70.99% lead.
During Q1 2022, Sasa sold 74,795 oz of payable silver to Osisko Gold Royalties, in accordance with its streaming agreement.
| Units | Q1 2022 | Q1 2021 | |
| Ore mined | t | 197,501 | 207,704 |
| Plant feed | t | 197,986 | 210,413 |
| Zinc grade | % | 3.14 | 3.23 |
| Zinc recovery | % | 84.3 | 84.5 |
| Lead grade | % | 3.65 | 3.57 |
| Lead recovery | % | 93.3 | 93.5 |
| Zinc concentrate | t (dry) | 10,519 | 11,521 |
| – Grade | % | 49.8 | 49.8 |
| – Contained zinc | t | 5,240 | 5,742 |
| Lead concentrate | t (dry) | 9,488 | 9,730 |
| – Grade | % | 71.0 | 72.1 |
| – Contained lead | t | 6,736 | 7,016 |
HEALTH AND SAFETY
The company recorded zero lost time injuries (LTI) at Kounrad and one LTI at Sasa.
OUTLOOK
Central Asia Metals’ full year 2022 guidance for copper is 12,500 to 13,500t; zinc in concentrate, 20,000 to 22,000t, and lead in concentrate, 27,000 to 29,000t.