Factors including ‘underground complexity’ came into play in seeing a drop in production at South32’s Cannington silver-lead-zinc mine in FY25.
Payable zinc equivalent production decreased by 20 per cent, or 60.6kt, compared to the previous year for a total of 241.9kt.
The company said this occurred as the operation continued to manage increased underground activity and complexity. Average metal grades also declined in accordance with the mine plan.
The figures were released in the company’s latest quarterly report and follow the move in the previous quarter to lower annual production guidance by 10 per cent.
Payable zinc equivalent production was calculated by aggregating revenues from silver, lead and zinc, and dividing the total revenue by the price of zinc.
Year on year, there were drops across the board in terms of output and sales.
Payable silver production was down 19 per cent to 10,292koz and payable silver sales dropped 7 per cent to 11,019koz.
Payable lead production was down 18 per cent to 92.4kt and payable lead sales dropped 3 per cent to 99.3kt. The figures for zinc dropped 27 per cent and 24 per cent respectively (44.5kt and 45.7kt).
South32 said the June quarter had seen work progress to assess the optimal mine plan to manage increased underground complexity and deliver sustainable production volumes over the remaining mine life.
The company plans to provide an update on this work and revised FY26 production guidance with its upcoming FY25 results announcement.