bid, page-29

the 2007 feasibility had low OPEX (20c/lb) but very high CAPEX ($1.6b for 200ktpa output)

today, this would probably be 25 to 30c/lb opex & $2B+ CAPEX

do the numbers & at current 83c/lb zinc, the payback is very poor

200ktpa x 2204 x (83c/lb - 33c/lb) = $220m pa EBITDA x 30% tax = $154M pa before interest & depreciation

interest on $1,000 loan would be $50m pa

if the project earned $120m net profit per annum, the payback on $2B capex would be 17 years

forget the zinc

it peaked back in the day due to the ignorance of investors

even back then, it was hopeless