Bisha mine halts processing; Eritrea's information minister says it is for maintenance
Bloomberg reports that the copper-zinc mine in Gash-Barka stopped processing amid a fuel shortage; Zijin Mining says it brought forward routine maintenance.

Bloomberg reports that processing at the Bisha mine has been halted since last week. Zijin Mining says it is routine maintenance, brought forward because of a fuel shortage.
Bloomberg reported on 15 October that processing has been halted at the Bisha copper-zinc mine in Eritrea's Gash-Barka region.
Zijin Mining, which owns 55 per cent of the mine and operates it, said the plant had been shut for routine maintenance, and that the work was brought forward from around the end of the year because of a temporary regional fuel shortage. The company said fuel supplies have since stabilised, but did not say when processing would resume.
Some buyers of the mine's zinc and copper concentrates were told the stoppage could last up to four weeks and delay shipments, Bloomberg reported. The report could not be independently verified.
Eritrea's information minister, Yemane Gebremeskel, citing the mine's management, said the plant was closed for maintenance and that operations were expected to restart shortly.
The remaining 45 per cent of the mine is held by the Eritrean National Mining Corporation (ENAMCO). The mine produced about 83,000 tonnes of zinc and 23,000 tonnes of copper last year.
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