$88 million from governments helps HudBay upgrade smelter

A $187-million program designed to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions at Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting’s (TSE) copper-zinc plant in Flin Flon, Man., got under way recently.

Financing for the program was provided when a U.S. subsidiary of Luxembourg-based Minorco paid 56% owned Inspiration Resources (TSE) of New York $100 million for all of the outstanding shares of Hudson Bay. The Canadian and Manitoba provincial governments are contributing $25 million and $55 million respectively toward the project with the balance provided by Hudson Bay Mining. The financial package includes $7.8 million from the Saskatchewan government.

At its peak, the company will employ 230 people and work is scheduled to be completed by Jan. 1, 1994. In that time, Hudson Bay is reducing sulphur dioxide emissions by 25% and airborne particulate emissions by 50% to meet specifications set by the Manitoba Environment Act and Canada/Manitoba sulphur dioxide reduction program.

Under the plan, Hudson Bay will replace most of the copper and zinc production lines in a bid to cut sulphur dioxide production to 220 kilotonnes annually from a maximum of 293 kilotonnes.

Hudson Bay Mining is the largest private sector employer in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan with 2,400 on the payroll and annual sales of $420 million.