Production at zinc mine to resume with purchase

By Eddie West Staff Writer

More than 300 new jobs are expected to be created in Smith County with plans to resume local zinc mining operations in the near future, state officials have announced.

On October 31, 2023, Nyrstar Middle Tennessee Mines (local zinc mines) enacted a “temporary pause in production” at the local mining facilities which are headquartered in Gordonsville, leaving more than 300 employees without jobs.

Meanwhile, Governor Bill Lee, Deputy Governor and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter announced a Korean company would be reopening the mine in Gordonsville and building new facilities in Clarksville (Montgomery County), creating more than 400 new jobs in that county.

Also Monday morning, Nyrstar USA announced it planned to sell its operation in Smith County (Middle Tennessee Mines-Gordonsville, Carthage and Elmwood) and East Tennessee mines to the company Korea Zinc. (See Nyrstar USA’s proposed sale page 1.)

Korea Zinc’s Chairman Yun B. Choi says the company will invest more than $6.6 billion in a two county project planned for Gordonsville and Clarksville, according to the governor’s announcement.

The multi-county project will include construction of a new facility in Clarksville which will house Korea Zinc’s U.S. headquarters and resume operations in Gordonsville as well.

Korea Zinc is the world’s leading comprehensive nonferrous metal manufacturer, sources say.

This will be the company’s first U.S. locations and the largest single private corporate investment made in state history, state officials say.

Korea Zinc’s project is expected to create 320 new jobs in Smith County and 420 new jobs in Montgomery County over the next five years, according to state officials.

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