Vale has successfully restarted its number two furnace and is ramping up production at its Copper Cliff smelter complex in Sudbury.
The number two furnace was restarted earlier this week following a rebuilding process as a result of a tapping block failure that occurred in February.
“We are pleased to be ramping up to full production at our Sudbury smelter,” said Jeff McLaughlin, Vale's vice-president of smelting and refining, North Atlantic Region. “Numerous design and operational improvements to the number two furnace will enhance furnace integrity and improve operational performance.”
The furnace stoppage is estimated to have entailed an output loss of 12,200 metric tonnes of finished nickel, representing approximately four per cent of the total nickel production planned for 2011.
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