NICKEL: Vale wins award for Long Harbour hydromet plant

NEWFOUNDLAND – Natural Resources, a magazine covering mining, oil and gas, and renewable energy development and a sister publication of Atlantic Resources, has named Vale’s nickel hydrometallurgical plant in Long Harbour, NL, the first recipient of its Industry Excellence Award. The award was made for the use of technology that eliminates the production of sulphur dioxide, a significant improvement to environmental performance. All waste solids are neutralized and all surface and process water is treated before release. The hydromet technology also improves the recovery of cobalt. Vale developed the patented hydromet process in 1999 after a $200-million R&D program. The Long Harbour plant produced its first nickel in late 2014. Read the citation in Natural Resources.