Leak causes CEZinc shutdown

Noranda (NRD-T) says a chemical leak that shut down a plant at a Quebec zinc refinery, 30 km west of Montreal, did not harm local residents or affect production.

The CEZinc refinery, owned by the Noranda Income Fund, closed one of its three sulfuric acid plants after a mechanical failure released about 5 tonnes of sulphur trioxide into the air.

Environment Canada will meet with refinery officials to find out why the leak was not reported when it happened.

The refinery, situated in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, issued a release saying it is reviewing and improving its emergency response procedures.

The plant has been in operation since 1963 and underwent a major overhaul in 1999 to bring production to 267,000 tonnes zinc annually. Noranda has spent $100 million on environmental technology to improve its overall performance.

The plant is the second-largest of its kind in North America and employs 735 people.

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