紫金矿业旗下厄立特里亚Bisha铜锌矿因燃料短缺暂停选厂处理，客户被告知发货或延迟最多约四周

Zijin Mining Group’s Bisha copper-zinc mine in Eritrea has suspended ore processing since last week amid a fuel shortage, with clients being informed of potential delays in shipments.

Some customers who buy Bisha’s zinc and copper concentrates, a form of semi-processed ores, were briefed last week that the halt could potentially last four weeks, and that there could be delays in the delivery schedule, according to two people familiar with the matter, who asked not be named discussing non-public information.

The mine’s processing plant was closed for routine maintenance last week, and operations were set to resume shortly, Yemane Gebremeskel, Eritrea’s information minister, said in an interview, citing the company’s management.

Maintenance originally scheduled for around the end of this year was brought forward due to “a temporary, regional fuel shortage,” Zijin told Bloomberg in an emailed response to questions. The company added that fuel supply was now stable, and that it would “arrange work activities related to production in an orderly manner.” It didn’t elaborate on the timing of a resumption of processing.

Zijin is the majority owner and operator of the mine, which produced 83,000 metric tons of zinc and 23,000 tons of copper last year. The Eritrean government’s mining entity owns a 45% stake.

Renewed tensions emerged between Eritrea and Ethiopia in recent weeks, with the two countries severing diplomatic ties and accusing one another of hostilities.

Zinc has rallied over 20% so far this year on the London Metal Exchange, beating copper and aluminum, as a shortage of mined ores worsens, limiting zinc production in China despite the country’s rapid expansion of smelting capacity.