The Esperance Port Authority, which oversaw export of 3 per cent of the world's mined lead, said it may seek to resume exports of the metal next year after it meets more stringent environmental standards.
The port has completed an audit into a new environmental management system and hopes to be accredited under the standard within six to 12 months, Chris Drinkwater, the authority's acting chief executive officer, said in an interview in Esperance on Aug 10.
The port would then apply to Western Australia state's Department of Environment and Conservation to have a lead export suspension order lifted, he added.
Lead shipments from Ivernia Inc's Magellan mine were suspended out of Esperance in March after high lead levels were found in the blood of some residents. Lead futures rose to a record in London last month on speculation an expanded inquiry into contamination at Australian ports will exacerbate a shortage of the metal. The price has gained 74 per cent this year.
'We are going to go down the ISO 14001 track which is an environmental accreditation that is not easy to get, and we would expect to get that over the next six months or the end of June next year,' Mr Drinkwater said. By attaining that standard 'you give lead a chance to be exported out of the port', he said.
The International Organisation for Standardisation's (ISO) 14000 series, including ISO 14001, is a collection of voluntary standards that help organisations improve performance through 'effective environmental management', according to Australia's Department of Environment website.
The new standard 'makes sure that our management and review processes are adequate and that our product quality monitoring processes are relevant', Mr Drinkwater said. 'It is an important step for the organisation to take.'
Toronto-based Ivernia shipped 79,588 tonnes of lead concentrate from Esperance from June 30, 2006 to the suspension of exports in March.
If production from the Magellan mine meets the new standards then shipments may resume later next year, Mr Drinkwater said, adding Ivernia was aware of the proposed changes.
The port has completed an audit into a new environmental management system and hopes to be accredited under the standard within six to 12 months, Chris Drinkwater, the authority's acting chief executive officer, said in an interview in Esperance on Aug 10.
The port would then apply to Western Australia state's Department of Environment and Conservation to have a lead export suspension order lifted, he added.
Lead shipments from Ivernia Inc's Magellan mine were suspended out of Esperance in March after high lead levels were found in the blood of some residents. Lead futures rose to a record in London last month on speculation an expanded inquiry into contamination at Australian ports will exacerbate a shortage of the metal. The price has gained 74 per cent this year.
'We are going to go down the ISO 14001 track which is an environmental accreditation that is not easy to get, and we would expect to get that over the next six months or the end of June next year,' Mr Drinkwater said. By attaining that standard 'you give lead a chance to be exported out of the port', he said.
The International Organisation for Standardisation's (ISO) 14000 series, including ISO 14001, is a collection of voluntary standards that help organisations improve performance through 'effective environmental management', according to Australia's Department of Environment website.
The new standard 'makes sure that our management and review processes are adequate and that our product quality monitoring processes are relevant', Mr Drinkwater said. 'It is an important step for the organisation to take.'
Toronto-based Ivernia shipped 79,588 tonnes of lead concentrate from Esperance from June 30, 2006 to the suspension of exports in March.
If production from the Magellan mine meets the new standards then shipments may resume later next year, Mr Drinkwater said, adding Ivernia was aware of the proposed changes.