BASE METAL PRODUCTION NEWS Kidd Shutdown Extended

TIMMINS, Ontario FALCONBRIDGE will shut down its Kidd zinc refinery for 13 weeks this summer, almost twice as long as originally planned. There will be no zinc production from June 29 to Sept. 30. Total zinc production for 2003 has been revised downward to 110,000 t from 145,000 t.

"The anticipated recovery of zinc metal markets early in 2003 is simply not taking place," said Daniel Picard, general manager of the Kidd Metallurgical Division.

The met division employees 295 people. There will be some temporary layoffs, but workers will fill in for others during vacations, be reassigned to other duties in the division, perform scheduled annual maintenance, or take vacation themselves.

Further information is available from Kevin Molnar, manager of human resources, at 705-235-8121 ext. 7631 or KMolnar@kiddmet.falconbridge.com.