The first shipment of zinc concentrates from the Lisheen Mine in Co Tipperary left the Port of Cork yesterday, exploration companies Ivernia West and Anglo American said. The ship carrying the consignment was bound for Antwerp in Belgium.

The companies said sales contracts were in place for in excess of 70 per cent of Lisheen's output, which is projected to be 330,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate and 40,000 tonnes of lead concentrate per annum at full production.

The mine will employ up to 300 people at full production - the owners anticipate annual gross sales of $200 million (€198 million).