roh, it was MIM way back when Bjelkje-Petersen was in power, not Xstrata. They also state in the article they will continue smelting lead at Mt Isa;
"This would also include the continuation of lead smelting and the expansion of port facilities in Townsville and create long-term employment opportunities."
This talk of lead smelting is quite tangential to the copper issue; the two metals' markets for concentrates are in very different situations this year. Copper has a glut of smelters due to a shortage of concentrate, lead has the opposite.
This closure by XST puts paid to the CDU claim they will be bought by XST to secure concentrate supply for the Mt Isa smelter, for the simple reason XST can make more money just shipping con out the port.
At least CDU has its port access sewn up, because it is now likely they'll need to ship their chalcopyrite out of Townsville like everyone else.
CDU Price at posting:
$3.24 Sentiment: None Disclosure: Not Held
