Xstrata Copper - Horne Smelter

Acid Plant Database March 1, 2011

Owner	Xstrata Copper
Location	Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec Canada
Background	Formerly - Noranda Inc. - Falconbridge Limited
Website	www.xstrata.com
Plant	Horne Smelter
Coordinates	48º 15' 6" N, 79º 1' 10" W
Type of Plant	Metallurgical
Gas Source	Copper, Electronic Scrap Noranda Process Reactor, Converter
Hot Gas Cleaning	-
Wet Gas Cleaning	Quench Venturi (Low Pressure Drop) - Retention Tower - Venturi (Variable Throat) - Cyclonic Separator - Primary Condenser - Primary WESP - Secondary Condenser - Secondary WESP - Hg Removal
Plant Capacity	2050 MTPD
SA/DA	3 SA Provisions made in the plant design for future retrofit to double absorption
Status	Operating
Year Built	1989
Technology	Chemetics
Contractor	Chemetics
Remarks	NOx Candle drainings collected and treated in a NOx stripper. NOx discharged to acid plant stack. Decolourization Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) added to product acid
Pictures
General	-
References	-
News	January 15, 2009 - Horne Smelter management announces that it is reducing its workforce and capital expenditures to strengthen its viability in current market conditions. The decision comes after careful evaluation of the impact on the Horne operations of the closure of Fabie Bay Mine, a custom milling client, and a reduction in the volume of recycled feed. In total, 55 permanent operational positions associated with milling ore from Fabie Bay Mine and the recycling operation will be made redundant. In addition, the announcement will impact approximately 30 consultants and other contractors. The challenging operating environment requires the Horne Smelter to scale back capital expenditures in 2009. However, investments related to important environmental improvement projects will continue, including the CDN$5 million project to install a secondary hood to capture fugitive emissions and reduce arsenic concentrations in the ambient air in the Notre-Dame neighbourhood. “The smelting business has recently faced a challenging operating environment and it is important that we respond rapidly to this downturn in the market and make the necessary adjustments,” said Claude Bélanger, General Manager of the Horne Smelter. “The Horne Smelter is a stand-alone custom smelting facility that operates in a very competitive environment. Full asset utilization and cost management are essential for Horne’s long-term viability.” said Mr. Bélanger. “We will give our people the support they need to minimize the impacts of these measures on them as much as possible. A number will be transferred to other jobs in the smelter,” added Mr. Bélanger.

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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