Vale Project Will Reduce Sudbury Smelter Emissions

Vale Project Will Reduce Sudbury Smelter Emissions

Vale has approved a $2-billion investment to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions at its smelter in Sudbury, Ontario, by 70% from current levels. Vale has already invested heavily in the “Clean AER Project,” spend-ing some $100-million on research and development over the past four years in preparation for final project approval. Clean AER (AER stands for atmospheric emissions reduction) is in addition to the 90% reduction in sulphur dioxide emis-sions realized at Sudbury since 1970 and complements the ongoing “re-greening” of the Sudbury region.

The 70% reduction will bring sulphur dioxide emissions at Vale’s Sudbury opera-tions down to 45,000 mt/y, below govern-ment regulated emissions limits of 66,000 mt/y. The project will also reduce emis-sions of dust and metals by 35% to 40% from current levels.

Vale estimates the retrofit will require about 8-million person-hours of additional labor, with 1,300 workers on-site during peak construction.

Construction will begin with site prepa-ration activities in April. Project comple-tion is estimated near the end of 2015.

As featured in Womp 2012 Vol 03 - www.womp-int.com