The copper refinery, founded in 1931 and undergoing a modernization program, has added a precious metals treatment plant (known as the TBRC) and a new water treatment plant.
The TBRC (top-blown rotary converter) was built at a cost of $22 million, including $10 million allocated to high technology environmental control equipment which allows for regulation of industrial hygiene conditions and reduction of atmospheric emissions.
The water treatment plant represents investments of more than $10 million and will result in reducing pollutants in the effluent stream by at least 90%.
Copper production at the refinery in 1988 amounted to 312,000 tonnes. Produced as a byproduct of the refining operation were 858,000 oz gold and 25.9 million oz silver.
“The construction of the TBRC and the water treatment plant are further evidence of our commitment to protecting the environment and will ensure that CCR’s atmospheric emissions and liquid effluents remain well below permissible norms,” said David Goldman, vice-president Noranda Copper Group.
Goldman explained the TBRC’s environmental protection equipment is controlled by a computer which ensures the facility will only operate when its gas scrubbing equipment is in working order. An emergency power supply will keep the computer operating during power failures.
Last autumn, CCR committed itself to at least $100 million in capital expenditures during the next five years, including $46 million for modernization (known as the CCR 2000 project) of the copper refining operation.
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