July 6, 2023: Nyrstar Australia’s Port Pirie multi-metals processing plant has been granted an extended five-year operating licence, the company announced on June 30. This was in part due to its upgrades in lead-in-air environmental performance.

Nyrstar co-CEO Dale Webb said the licence from the Environmental Protection Agency — which has only issued yearly licences for the past three years — was the result of intensive efforts to improve the site’s performance.

“We make critical metals that the world needs for the green transition and a lower carbon future such as zinc, lead, copper and silver,” Webb said.

“Over recent years we have had a strong focus on improving our environmental performance in all areas, and especially reducing lead-in-air concentrations.”

Over the past four years, average lead-in-air concentration levels measured across Nyrstar’s monitoring network have reduced by 40%, the company said.

Meanwhile, Nyrstar is working on a new A$23 million ($15.4 million) product recycling facility, co-funded with the South Australian state government, that will store and mix intermediate production materials.

Last month, Nyrstar said rising exports of Australian refined lead to the US could be boosted still further after the signing of a clean energy pact between the nations.

Nyrstar’s report on opportunities for Australia’s critical minerals supply sector, published on June 6,  said the US has seen a significant increase in quantities of imported lead from 313 kilotonnes to 535kt since 2020.

The Climate, Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Transformation Compact announced by the White House on May 23 — in addition to an existing free trade agreement — could lead to even higher exports.