SUPPLIERS NEWS ROUNDUP — Toronto firm to supply lime to Chile

South American Copper & Gold (SACG) will partner with a private local firm to build a US$6-million lime kiln processing plant in Chile.

The project will launch Toronto-based SAGC into the lime supply business, producing 150 tonnes of metallurgical lime per day once the plant is up and running in early 2000. Domestic demand for lime is increasing, and the local supply of 1 million tonnes per year, used primarily by the mining industry, falls short of demand.

SACG will hold a 60% interest in the project, to be built 300 km north of Santiago. Las t year, the Chilean mining industry, primarily gold and copper producers, used approximately 500,000 tonnes of high-grade lime in flotation and cyanide leaching processes.