Xstrata Zinc - Brunswick Smelter

Acid Plant Database November 16, 2019

Owner	Xstrata Zinc
Location	Belledune, New Brunswick Canada E0B 1G0
Background	Formerly Brunswick Mining and Smelting
Website	www.xstrata.com
Plant	Brunswick Smelter
Coordinates	47º 53' 56" N, 65º 50' 6" W (site)
Type of Plant	Metallurgical
Gas Source	Lead (Pb) Sinter Machine
Plant Capacity	540 MTPD
SA/DA	3 SA
Status	Operating
Year Built	1966
Technology	Mechim
Contractor	Mechim
Remarks	1997 - Contact section extensively revamped with new stainless steel converter and gas-to-gas heat exchangers Decolourization Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) added to product acid
Pictures
General	-
News	November 15, 2019 - About 420 jobs are set to go by Christmas at Glencore Canada’s Brunswick lead smelter, a significant employer in New Brunswick, Canada. The smelter has been uneconomic since the former Xstrata-owned Brunswick mine closed in 2013. Zinc and lead assets head Chris Eskdale said the company had "thoroughly assessed all options" but ultimately concluded "the smelter is simply not sustainable". He said the closure came regardless of the recent labour dispute. About 280 workers from the Brunswick smelter in Belledune, members of USW Local 7085, have been locked out of their jobs by Glencore since April 24. The workers say the Swiss-based multinational is demanding concessions that include "attacks on the workers' health and safety standards and union representation". Glencore said it would provide pension, severance and outplacement support services for all employees as part of closure settlements yet to be agreed on. The company would also seek potential relocation opportunities at its mining and metallurgical operations in other provinces and countries, which might be available to Brunswick smelter workers. The company plans to retain "a small number" of employees on site for monitoring, water treatment and closure projects "in the months ahead". The Brunswick smelter opened in 1966 as part of the Brunswick No.12 development, underpinned by the largest deposit in the Bathurst base metals camp and was one of the largest underground zinc mines in the world well into the late 1990s. The Brunswick Local 7085 website advised the committee would meet this Friday "to make a game plan" and would meet the company on Monday morning to discuss the closure.

MTPD - Metric Tonne per Day STPD - Short Ton per Day
MTPA - Metric Tonne per Annum STPA - Short Ton per Annum
SA - Single Absorption
DA - Double Absorption

* Coordinates can be used to locate plant on Google Earth


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