B.C. copper smelter studied

A preliminary feasibility study recently concluded that a copper smelting facility on the coast of British Columbia would be economically viable. A Vancouver-based firm headed by former Cominco executive Roger Taylor launched the study which considered plans to build a $500-million smelter near the existing Alcan aluminum smelter at Kitimat, B.C. The study was partially funded by the British Columbia and Canadian governments.

British Columbia is a sizable copper producer; however, it has no copper smelters. Copper concentrates produced in the province are typically shipped to Japan or to other offshore destinations for final processing.