COPPER-LEAD SPENDING: Teck earmarks $210-M for Trail, $475-M for Highland Valley

BRITISH COLUMBIA - Vancouver-based Teck Resources has plans to invest $685 million in its metallurgical complex at Trail and the Highland Valley copper mine near Logan Lake. The investment is intended to improve the long term viability of these key operations.

At Trail, the $210 million expenditure will included the construction of a new slag fuming furnace and settling furnace that will be integrated into the existing lead smelting process. Collectively this is called the No.4 furnace project. Construction is to begin in 2012 with completion scheduled for 2014.

At Highland Valley Copper, the 40-year-old copper mill will be modernized at a cost of $475 million. Mill throughput will be increased 10% and copper recoveries will rise by 2%. The project will also match the life of the concentrator to the life of the mine, expected to be producing until 2025. Construction is to begin immediately and be completed by the end of 2013.

Operating results for all of Teck's mines and other detailed information is posted at www.Teck.com.