Inco recently opened a small pilot plant in Mississauga, Ont., to test its hydrometallurgical processing technology for treating concentrates from the Voisey’s Bay operation in Labrador.
The plant is part of Inco’s US$134-million research-and-development program for the first phase of Voisey’s Bay, and is aimed at confirming the commercial application of hydrometallurgical technology, or hydromet.
Says Inco Chairman Scott Hand: “Our success with this technology will play an important part in the future of our Voisey’s Bay nickel-copper-cobalt project, and will also help position Canada, and Newfoundland and Labrador, at the forefront of mineral processing technology worldwide.”
Hydromet technology offers a cost-effective and environmentally sound alternative to conventional smelting and refining. Inco is developing its hydromet technology for Voisey’s Bay in four stages: bench-scale laboratory testing, which is already completed; the mini-pilot plant; a demonstration plant; and a commercial plant.
The demonstration plant and commercial plant will both be built in Newfoundland and Labrador. “This is the same step-by-step process we have used to develop the hydrometallurgical technology at our Goro project in New Caledonia,” says Hand. “Quite simply, it’s the right way to develop a project of this scale.”
Hydromet has several key advantages over a conventional smelting and refining process: it is more economical in terms both of initial capital and operating expenses, more energy-efficient, and more environmentally sound, eliminating the sulphur dioxide and dust emissions associated with a conventional smelter.
“This is not experimental technology,” Hand adds. “It has been around for a long time. We’re confident our in-house expertise in hydromet, combined with our step-by-step approach to R&D, will make this technology a big winner for us.”
He notes that Inco’s long-standing strength in R&D is playing a major role in both of its expansion projects, at Goro and Voisey’s Bay.
Eleven co-operative students and recent graduates from Newfoundland and Labrador are among 65 employees working at the mini-pilot plant. “We’re helping these people develop the knowledge and skills now which they can take back to Newfoundland and Labrador to help make this project a success in the years ahead,” Hand says.
— The preceding is from an information bulletin published by Inco.
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