LATIN AMERICA SPECIAL — Cominco, Marubeni acquire refinery

A Canadian company and a Japanese trader joined forces to acquire the Cajamarquilla zinc refinery from a state-owned Peruvian company.

Cominco (TSE) and Marubeni Corp. paid US$108 million for the refinery, Metal Bulletin reports. The plant, which has been experiencing electrical problems, has the capacity to turn out 101,000 tonnes zinc per year. Cominco, with an 83% interest, is the refinery operator.