Official Opening of Voisey�s Bay Mini Pilot Plant

NLIS 3
October 3, 2003
(Mines and Energy)

Minister of Mines and Energy Walter Noel said today that the hydromet facility for Voisey�s Bay concentrate in Argentia is one step closer with the official opening of the Voisey�s Bay mini pilot plant at INCO Limited�s facilities in Sheridan Park, Mississauga.

The purpose of the mini pilot plant is to ensure that the individual chemical processes in the hydromet facility can be interconnected into a continuous process. The information derived from the operation of the mini pilot plant is critical to the design of the Argentia demonstration plant which in turn will allow for fine tuning and optimization of the hydromet process.

"Data generated through the operation of the mini pilot plant over the next several months will allow VBNC to refine the design parameters for the Argentia plant. The Argentia facility will be designed, constructed and commissioned over the next three years and will commence operations in July 2006," said Minister Noel.

"INCO�s top scientific staff who are absolutely critical to the success of this phase of the project are located in this part of the country and hence the necessity of locating the mini pilot plant in Ontario. However, 11 of the approximately 60 people who are currently working on the research and development program are from Newfoundland and Labrador. This will allow for critical technology and knowledge transfer from the mini pilot plant phase to the demonstration plant phase in Argentia".

"I congratulate VBNC and INCO for their success in developing and operating the Voisey�s Bay mini pilot plant and I look forward to a successful application of the knowledge gained to the Argentia demonstration plant."

Minister Noel noted that employment in the Voisey�s Bay project overall to date has exceeded expectations with in excess of 600 people working on the project in Newfoundland and Labrador at the present time.

Media contact: Sam Whiffen, Communications (709) 729-2426

2003 10 03 12:30 p.m.

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