Pre-tax profits at Lisheen miners up 60%

Pre-tax profits at the company that processes lead and zinc from the Lisheen mine in Co Tipperary increased by nearly 60% last year, to $75.6m (€58m).

The increase at Lisheen Milling Ltd, before a 2010 reversal of impairment is taken into account, followed revenues at the firm rising by 54.5% from $264.9m to $409.5m in the 15 months to the end of March this year.

The mine has been in production since 1999 and produces an average 165,000 tonnes of zinc per year and 200 tonnes of lead, with production last year on a par with 2010.