NORANDA MAGNESIUM has announced that 23 of the 24 electrolytic cells are running at 70% of design power rate at the Magnola plant in Danville, Que. Production for the full year (2002) is estimated to reach 25,000 tonnes Mg. The plant should be declared in commercial production during the first quarter of 2003. It has a capacity of 58,000 tonnes Mg annually.
Originally, the Magnola project was to cost $900 million, but the budget has swollen to $1.1 billion. Problems including an electrolyte leak in one cell, blockages in the magnesium chloride (MgCl2) prill transport system, and damaged electrodes in the electrolytic cells have had to be addressed.
More information on the unique Magnola process can be found on page 31 of the June-July, 2000, issue of CMJ or at www.noranda.ca
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