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Xstrata Mount Isa Mines welcomes Ambient Air Monitor (PDF)
Mount Isa, Friday 1 August 2008
Xstrata Mount Isa Mines has welcomed any new air monitoring initiatives that complement our existing comprehensive world class air monitoring system in Mount Isa.
“Mount Isa has the most extensive air quality monitoring system of any city in Australia and we support any additional steps that increase public confidence in environmental reporting,” said Xstrata Copper North Queensland Chief Operating Officer, Steve de Kruijff.
“Xstrata has a network of environmental monitoring systems in the Mount Isa community and we consistently report well below the Queensland EPA limit of 1.5 micrograms per cubic metre for lead in air levels.
“We continue to monitor our emissions in line with our licensing conditions and we report those findings to the EPA. We have mutually agreed to monthly reporting on our environmental performance and we are happy to provide this information.
“The monitor to be installed by the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide additional information about the level of metals, such as lead, in the air, however it will not be able to identify the origins of the metals.
“We have commissioned the independent Lead Pathways Study being conducted by the University of Queensland’s Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, led by Associate Professor Barry Noller.
“The study will assess the forms of lead from potential sources on-site at our mining operations and possible pathways into the community. The results of this study will be made public.
“Since taking over Mount Isa Mines in mid-2003, we have spent over $200 million on more than 80 environmental initiatives. We have also established a Smelter Emissions Project to further improve emissions captured from both the lead and copper smelters.”
Ends
Xstrata Contacts
| Sue Sara |
Melanie Edgar |
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| General Manager Corporate Affairs Queensland |
Manager Community Relations NQ |
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| Telephone |
+61 7 3295 7535 |
Telephone |
+61 7 4744 2832 |
| Mobile |
+61 7 411 206 090 |
Mobile |
+61 423 820 701 |
| Email |
suesara@xstrata.com.au |
Email |
medgar@xstratacopper.com.au |
ABOUT XSTRATA PLC
Xstrata is a global diversified mining group, listed on the London and Swiss Stock Exchanges, with its headquarters in Zug, Switzerland. Xstrata’s businesses maintain a meaningful position in seven major international commodity markets: copper, coking coal, thermal coal, ferrochrome, nickel, vanadium and zinc, with additional exposures to platinum group metals, gold, cobalt, lead and silver, recycling facilities and a suite of global technology products, many of which are industry leaders. The Group's operations and projects span 18 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Germany, New Caledonia, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, the USA and the UK. Xstrata employs approximately 56,000 people, including contractors.
ABOUT XSTRATA COPPER
Headquartered in Brisbane, Xstrata Copper is one of the commodity business units within the major global diversified mining group Xstrata plc. Its operations and projects span eight countries: Australia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Canada, the USA, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Its operations are administered by five separate divisions, based close to the mining operations, namely the North Queensland, Minera Alumbrera, North Chile, Southern Peru and Canada divisions. It also has a recycling business (Xstrata Recycling) with plants in the United States and offices in Canada and Asia.
Xstrata Copper is the fourth largest global copper producer with annual attributable production capacity of over one million tonnes.
ABOUT XSTRATA ZINC
Headquartered in Madrid, Spain, Xstrata Zinc is one of the world’s largest producers of zinc and one of the commodity business units within the major global diversified mining group Xstrata plc. Xstrata’s zinc and lead operations and exploration projects are located in Australia, Canada, Germany, Peru, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Xstrata Zinc’s operations in Spain comprise the San Juan de Nieva zinc smelter and the Arnao zinc semis plant in Asturias, and the Hinojedo roasting plant in Cantabria.
In Australia, operations comprise the Mount Isa, George Fisher underground and Black Star open cut zinc lead mines, zinc lead concentrator, lead smelter and Bowen Coke Works in north Queensland; 75% of the Lady Loretta zinc lead deposit in north-west Queensland; the McArthur River open pit zinc lead mine, processing and port operations in the Northern Territory; and 50% of the Lennard Shelf underground zinc lead mine and processing operations in Western Australia.
In Canada, operations and exploration projects include the Brunswick zinc-lead mine and lead smelter in New Brunswick; 25% of the CEZ zinc smelter near Montreal; and the Perseverance zinc deposit in Quebec. Xstrata Zinc also operates the Nordenham zinc smelter in northern Germany; the Northfleet lead refinery in the United Kingdom; and owns 33.75% of the Antamina mine in Peru.
Around half of all zinc currently consumed is used for galvanizing steel, which is an environmentally friendly method of protecting steel against corrosion. Zinc also finds application in the manufacture of die-cast alloys, brass and the production of zinc oxides and chemicals.