Centrex has readied 7199 tonnes of phosphate concentrate in preparation for shipping from its Ardmore rock phosphate mine near Mount Isa, Queensland.
The shipment is expected to depart the Townsville Port this morning, May 20, and will be shipped to an existing customer of Centrex.
Centrex expects its next shipment of 15,000 tonnes will depart in early June.
The company has also welcomed the arrival of new cyclone banks in Mount Isa which are set to be installed as part of the Ardmore processing plant.
The cyclone banks are expected to enhance plant separation and efficiency, resulting in higher hourly throughput rates.
“Centrex continues to realise concrete milestones for its Stage 1.5 expansion at Ardmore, positioning the company to become a major supplier of beneficiated phosphate concentrate,” Centrex chief executive officer and managing director Robert Mencel said.
“During December 2024, upon the conclusion of the Stage 1.5 expansion, Ardmore will unlock a production run-rate of 625,000 tonnes per annum, transforming it into a highly cashflow positive asset for the company.”
Centrex has also successfully installed wet concentrate overflow storage pads and Northern drying pads to enhance its drying capacity and improve its drying efficiency, allowing greater quantities of phosphate concentrate to be dried and sold.
“The advantage of the greater operational efficiencies provided by the company’s Stage 1.5 expansion will become increasingly evident as production experiences a substantial increase over the third and fourth quarters of 2024, thanks to the substantial efforts from our team,” Mencel said.
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