Vazante zinc mine operations in Brazil resumed at full capacity

Nexa Resources has announced that its Vazante zinc mine in Brazil has resumed operations at full capacity following the underground mine dewatering.

As previously disclosed by the company, daily production at Vazante was reduced to 60% of capacity from mid-January 2022 to February, as the underground operation was partially flooded due to heavy rainfall levels in the state of Minas Gerais, gradually improving utilization rates in March, which averaged 70%.

The company said that during this period, it also took advantage of the opportunity to plan the replacement of our main mill, trunnion, and gear box. The Vazante’s zinc production guidance for 2022 remains unchanged at 118-127kt.

Nexa currently owns and operates five long-life underground mines – three located in the Central Andes of Peru and two located in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil – and is developing the Aripuanã project as its sixth underground mine in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Nexa also currently owns and operates three smelters, two located in Brazil and one in Peru, Cajamarquilla, which is the largest smelter in the Americas. Nexa was among the top five producers of mined zinc globally in 2021 and also one of the top five metallic zinc producers worldwide in 2021, according to Wood Mackenzie.