Chinese-controlled miner MMG has advised that sourcing competitively priced natural gas will be critical to avoid complete closure of its near-­depleted Century zinc mine in north-west Queensland, which employs about 900 people.

Mark Adams , general manager of Queensland operations for MMG, said a tentative plan to convert the remote site to a tailings recovery operation to prolong its life for potentially another 15 to 20 years couldn’t proceed if wholesale gas prices continued to surge.