Development of Tara Deep ore body crucial to future of mine

Management at Tara Mines committed to resuming development of the Tara Deep ore body "as soon as it is possible to do so" when local politicians visited the mine on Friday.

The Mayor of Navan, Cllr Eddie Fennessy and Deputies Johnny Guirke and Darren O'Rourke visited the mine and met with some of the management team for a discussion on the Tara Deep ore deposit, which has the potential to maintain the facility’s operation for an additional 40 years.

The visit came as the unions at Tara Mines expressed concern over the lack of progress on the development of Tara Deep, which has the potential to maintain the facility’s operation for an additional 40 years.

Cllr Fennessy said production at Tara Deep was the only way to secure the future of the mine.

"Tara Mines is the largest zinc mine in Europe and the eight largest in the world. I've wanted to see the facility for as long as I can remember and I thank Boliden for allowing us to visit .

"Tara Mines played an integral part in the growth of Navan over the past 50 years. Workers from all corners of Ireland and beyond came here to live and to work. Businesses built up around the facility creating employment and benefitting the local economy.

"We met with some of the management team for a discussion on the Tara Deep ore deposit and the future of the mine. Production at Tara Deep is the only way to secure a future for the mine, it's employees and the businesses who rely on Boliden for trade. We were reassured that, it is the company's full intention to commence production as soon as it is possible to do so."

Cllr Fennessy said Tara Mines was a significant local employer and customer to many local businesses and the government had a significant role to play in this process. "They need to work with Boliden to protect the mine and to bring about the exploration of Tara Deep as quickly as possible."

Deputy Johnny Guirke said he was delighted to visit Tara Mines and see first hand the important role it plays in the community and in Meath.

He stressed that he will continue to push the government to provide the necessary supports to protect jobs at the mine and ensure its future.

Deputy Guirke also said he was reassured to hear that Boliden plans to begin production at Tara Deep soon, which is vital for the long-term sustainability of the mine and local employment.

Meanwhile, John Regan of SIPTU said they had met with the Department of Enterprise and Employment last Thursday expressing their concern that the company was not advancing Tara Deep and he said he would be writing to the company, expressing their concerns.

Last month the Tara Mines Group of Unions called on the Government to take over the running of part or all of Tara Mines, if Boliden failed to invest in the development of Tara Deep.

Mr Regan said; “The company had invested in the development of Tara Deep for four years prior to the mine going into care and maintenance, with the lay-off of its workforce, in July 2023. At the time of commencement of this development plan, the timeframe was for Tara Deep to come into production in 2029. This timeframe is now ever increasing with Tara Deep development mining having not recommenced following the resumption of other activities at the mine last year.”

SIPTU Organiser, Andrew McGuinness said: “We believe that the Government needs to step in and ask some serious questions of New Boliden and its plans for Tara Deep. If the company fails to put a plan in place that commences development of Tara Deep by no later than year-end 2025, the Government should step in and take over its development by way of full or part State ownership of the mine".

Boliden Tara Mines has been approached for comment.