After 3 years, Doe Run Peru`s La Oroya finally restarts - BASE METALS - Mineweb.com Mineweb
BASE METALS After 3 years, Doe Run Peru's La Oroya finally restarts
Peru's Minister of Energy and Mines says the resumptions of operations at the La Oroya metallurgical complex will benefit both workers and the local economy.
Author: Dorothy Kosich Posted: Monday , 30 Jul 2012 RENO (MINEWEB) -
Peru's Minister of Energy and Mines, Jorge Merino Tafur, said Sunday the restart of the circuit operations of the zinc smelter at the La Oroya complex will financially benefit hundreds of workers and the local economy.
The administrator of the Doe Run Peru Company, Rocio Chavez, announced Saturday on RPP radio, "We have come to La Oroya to tell all the people of La Oroya and Peru on this memorable date we announce the restarting of operations at the metallurgical complex of La Oroya after its being shut down for three years.[sic]"
The restart of operations will begin on the zinc-processing circuit, which now has its smelting furnaces burning and the reactors on, she said. "The first shipment of concentrates arrives today so we can start production in the next few days."
Merino Tafur noted that resumption of operations of the zinc circuit has benefited up to 500 workers, who are now working full-time. He noted the zinc circuit meets environmental standards. After 3 years, Doe R... After 3 years, Doe Run Peru`s La Oroya finally restarts - BASE METALS - Mineweb.com Mineweb
The minister observed resumption of zinc operations gives "a not too distant horizon" of resumption of lead operations. The metallurgical complex's lead circuit meets environmental standards, while the copper circuit currently does not meet the standards contained in La Oroya Program of Environmental Compliance and Management.
The La Oroya complex includes both smelters and refineries that process copper, zinc, gold, silver, lead, indium, bismuth, gold, selenium, tellurium, antimony and other producers.
Merino Tafur said he was looking forward to resolving pending issues related to the copper circuit, particularly the pending construction of a sulfuric acid plant for copper, which was required by the Peruvian government to remove pollutants at the metallurgical complex.
Resumption of the copper circuit will keep the mine in Huancavelica Cobriza in operation, the minister noted. The underground mine produces copper concentrates for the smelter.
Merino Tafur said the resumption of operations at the complex was achieved through consensus and the efforts of the management company Right Business, workers at the smelter, and creditors of the company Doe Run Peru, who were all interested in resurrecting a vital investment to the economy of La Oroya.
In April, Doe Run Peru was declared by its creditors to be in a process of "operational liquidation," meaning that while the creditors would not approve the company's restructuring plan, they would allow the company to resume production while the board of creditors further analyzed Doe Run Peru's situation and prepare to make a final decision.
Topics: MINING, METALS, MINING AND METALS, INVESTMENT, DOE RUN, DOE RUN PERU, LA OROYA METALLURGICAL COMPLEX, PERUVIAN SMELTING OPERATIONS, PERUVIAN METAL REFINERIES, DOE RUN PERU ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, DOE RUN PERU BANKRUPTCY REORGANIZATION, LA OROYA SULFURIC ACID PLANT
About Dorothy Kosich
A veteran mining journalist, Dorothy Kosich, MA, MPA, brings a wealth of experience not only in mining itself but also in public policy, government affairs and socially sustainable development to bear on Mineweb's largest market. She is Mineweb's Deputy Editor and Americas' Editor