About Us
Magellan Metals is wholly owned by Ivernia Inc, an international base metals mining, exploration and development company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol IVW.
The Magellan Project
The Magellan project is an open cut lead carbonate mine and concentrating facility located 30 kilometres from Wiluna in Western Australia’s Mid-West region. Lead carbonate concentrate produced from the mine is exported to customers in China and other countries.
At full production this unique operation has the capacity to be the world's most significant pure lead mine, accounting for approximately two percent of the total world mined lead production.
Following extensive community and Government consultation, in August 2009 Magellan Metals obtained approvals to commence bagged and containerised sealed shipments of lead carbonate concentrates through the Port of Fremantle. This process was developed following bulk concentrate handling issues at the Port of Esperance in 2007, which allowed some of Magellan’s product to escape into the environment. In September 2009, Magellan Metals began shipping to its international customers using this process.
On 7 April 2011, the Magellan Mine was placed under care and maintenance when an isotopic test of a dried mud sample from the bottom of a shipping container revealed the presence of Magellan lead. The mine will remain under care and maintenance while an end-to-end review of the entire Magellan operation is undertaken to identify ways to minimise the risk of further business interruptions.
In the first quarter of 2011, as part of its A$9 million commitment under the terms of the Esperance Agreement with the Government of Western Australia, Magellan Metals made a second A$3 million payment; a contribution towards the Government managed clean-up of the Esperance Port and Town following the bulk handling issues which had occurred there with Magellan’s product.
Lead
Lead is one of the most widely used and versatile materials in existence, and essential in our modern economy.
Virtually every car, hybrid vehicle and electric bike (e-bike) is started by a lead-acid battery, and lead-acid batteries account for approximately 80 per cent of global lead consumption. Industrial lead-acid batteries are also the preferred energy source for critical infrastructure systems, such as computer and telecommunications networks and emergency power supplies. They also provide the storage for renewable energy systems in remote areas where power is generated from solar and wind sources.
Due to the density and malleability of lead it provides the greatest level of protection from radiation to staff working inhospitals, dental surgeries, laboratories and nuclear installations.
Lead has the highest recycling rate of any metal - nearly 85 per cent of lead products are recyclable.
Total world demand for lead continues to grow, fuelled largely by domestic industrialisation in China and other developing economies. There is every indication that these conditions will extend well into the future. Magellan Metals is positioned as a leading lead producer to meet this demand.
Magellan is a member of the International Lead Association (ILA), and engaged with the Lead Action 21 program of the ILA.
Community Activities
The A$1 million Magellan Metals Community Fund was established in early 2009. The fund is a three-year program to support not-for-profit projects focused on Esperance, which deliver sustainable benefits for a broad cross-section of the Esperance community .
In 2009, ten community programs received funding to the value of $298,273 and Magellan also contributed $50,000 toward the CT Scanner Project for the Esperance Hospital. In 2010, the Magellan Metals Community Fund committed a further $286,108 to nine Esperance organisations to undertake a variety of local community projects. Projects selected for funding in 2011 will be announced in early May 2011.
Magellan is also engaged with the Wiluna Regional Partnership Agreement (Wiluna RPA), a forum bringing the Aboriginal community together with all levels of government, industry (particularly the mining industry) and the wider community of the Shire of Wiluna. Its purpose is to create a collaborative partnership to address a wide scope of social, economic and cultural development needs in the Shire of Wiluna.
