Zincore Metals Inc. (TSX:ZNC) is planning to line-up a partner for developing its Accha zinc-lead project. Jorge Benavides, Chief Executive Officer said that Zincore Metals aims to line up a partner by year-end to help develop its $345 million Accha zinc-lead project in Peru. Benavides told BNamericas that Zincore has hired Toronto Dominion Bank Group to look for a shareholder to develop the mine and a refinery in the southern Andes.

Benavides said that miners like Glencore Xstrata plc (LSE:GLEN),Teck Resources Limited (TSX:TCK.B), Votorantim Metais Ltda. and First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (TSX:FM) may take a look at the project. Benavides said, "This kind of financing is beyond our capacity.

It'll be easier to attract interest with our prefeasibility study done and because there are few projects out there as no one has been investing in zinc for years." The Accha project will start production by 2017, when zinc prices are slated to rebound due to lack of supply as old mines close down and new projects are delayed, Benavides said. Three companies are already studying the project, Benavides added, while declining to name them. Benavides also said, "Once we have the feasibility study, the mine will take about three years to build, with permitting and construction running in parallel.

We should hit the market at its peak for lack of zinc supply."