Vale to spend $2B to cut sulphur dioxide emissions in Sudbury

Vale (VALE-N) has approved a $2-billion plan to reduce by 70% the sulphur dioxide emissions from its smelter in Sudbury, Ont. 

“This project is an important undertaking and will utilize the latest technological innovations available to us to retrofit our smelter complex,” says John Pollesel, chief operating officer of Vale Canada. “It’s a proud day and great news for all of us who work, live and raise families in this wonderful community.”

This reduction, dubbed the Clean Atmospheric Emissions Reduction (“Clean AER”) project, will add to the 90% reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions already realized since 1970.

Over the past four years Vale has spent $100 million on research and development for the project. Project director Dave Stefanuto says the effort will be a huge undertaking. “During the overhaul, the smelter will continue to operate regularly,” he says. “We have already put a lot of time, energy and resources into planning to ensure safety and efficiency, and now we’re ready to begin construction.” 

Vale estimates the retrofit will require 8 million more hours of labour, with 1,300 workers on-site during peak construction.

The 70% reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions at Vale’s Sudbury operations will put Vale well below government-regulated emission limits by 2015, at 45 kilotonnes per year, versus the regulatory limit of 66 kilotonnes per year. The project will also reduce dust and metal emissions up to 40%.

“Once all the research was complete, this was an easy decision,” Pollesel says. “It is the right thing to do as a company and the right thing to do for our employees and the local community to ensure the long-term sustainability of our operations. Sudbury has already earned a reputation for innovation in mining and environmental reclamation. The Clean AER project promises to add another historic milestone to that success.” 

Construction will begin in April with site-preparation activities. Project completion is estimated near the end of 2015. 

In 2010, Vale announced a $10-billion, five-year investment program across Canada to enhance and expand its various nickel operations. About $3.4 billion of this expenditure is being spent on modernizing Vale’s Sudbury operations.