A production accident yesterday at Hulun Buir Chihong Mining, a subsidiary of key Chinese base metals producer Yunnan Chihong Zinc and Germanium, resulted in three deaths and an injury after toxic gas, preliminarily determined as carbon monoxide, leaked at a lead workshop.
The accident did not affect Hulun Buir Chihong's other production areas in Inner Mongolia and the surrounding environment, said the company. More details including the cause of the accident, shutdown duration and the impact on the company's operations were undisclosed.
Hulun Buir Chihong has set a production guidance this year of 131,600t for zinc, with it producing 60,700t during January-June.
Yunnan Chihong Zinc and Germanium produced 199,700t of zinc products, including 153,600t of metal and 46,100t of alloy, during this year's first half. Its lead and germanium production reached 47,600t and 23.94t respectively.
The firm is also a key indium producer in China and will likely auction several tonnes in the near future, according to some market participants.
The spot germanium market edged up further this week as producers raised offer prices because of thin profit margins. The range for 99.999pc grade metal was assessed by Argus at 8,400-8,800 yuan/kg ($1,296-1,358/kg) ex-works today, up by Yn200/kg from 12 August. Export prices for 99.999pc grade metal were assessed at $1,270-1,370/kg fob today, up by $10/kg from 12 August.
