The Sun Metals Refinery is a major zinc refining facility located at Stuart, about 15km south of Townsville in North Queensland.

The refinery is owned and operated by Sun Metals Corporation, a subsidiary of the global metals company Korea Zinc, one of the world’s largest producers of zinc, lead and silver.

Construction of the refinery began in the mid-1990s, with operations commencing in 1999. The facility processes zinc concentrate sourced from mines in Australia and internationally, converting it into special high-grade zinc metal that meets the quality standards of the London Metal Exchange.

The refinery produces more than 220,000 tonnes of refined zinc annually, with expansion projects lifting potential capacity to around 270,000–300,000 tonnes per year.

Alongside zinc metal, the plant also produces several by-products, including sulphuric acid, lead sulphate, copper cement and gypsum, which are sold to domestic and international markets.

Sun Metals is one of Queensland’s largest industrial energy users and has invested heavily in renewable power, including a 121MW solar farm built adjacent to the refinery to supply a significant portion of its electricity needs.