NICKEL: Vale to cut furnaces at Copper Cliff smelter

ONTARIO – Media reports from northern Ontario are saying that Vale is is planning to cut back production at the Copper Cliff smelter in Sudbury to a single furnace and that the decision will slow the implementation of its $2-billion Clean AER (atmospheric emissions reduction) program.

Volatile markets and weaker prices are behind the decision. However, the change is not expected to take effect before the end of 2016.

Vale broke ground for its Clean AER (atmospheric emissions reduction) project only six months ago. The goal is to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions by 70% from current levels. The deadline was originally set for 2015, but was soon pushed back to 2016. The first of four new converters for the project was delivered to the site in September 2012.

The original reports appeared in the Northern Life newspaper (NorthernLife.ca) and the Northern Ontario Business magazine (NorthernOntarioBusiness.com).