Leakage detected at Falconbridge

Falconbridge says it expects to lose about 3,500 tonnes of cathode production at its Kidd Creek copper smelter in Timmins, Ont., after a leak was detected in the converting furnace, Sept. 16.

Approximately 200 tonnes of copper metal and 35 tonnes of slag drained on to the smelter floor but the incident did not result in any personal injuries or extensive damage to the plant.

Preliminary estimates are that repairs will be completed in about 30 days, according to Falconbridge, which also produces zinc concentrates and silver at Kidd Creek. However, Kidd Creek’s mine and concentrator production schedules are not expected to be affected by the spill.

The western world’s second largest nickel producer, Falconbridge is owned equally by Noranda (TSE) and Trelleborg AB of Sweden.