PRESS RELEASE: The plant, expected to be operational at the end of 2020, aims to extract more metal from residual material. Simultaneously, the amount of waste for disposal in the deep repository at Rönnskär will be reduced.

Kerstin Konradsson, president, Boliden smelters, said: "The investment is fully in line with our strategy to extract as much metal as technically possible from existing raw materials. This significant improvement in Rönnskär's resource efficiency will both enhance the smelter's competitiveness and reduce the volumes of materials for disposal."

The leaching plant comprises a new 45m x 135m building located next to the quay in the Rönnskär industrial area. The plant is scheduled to come online at the end of 2020, provided that the environmental permit for the plant is granted as expected in September 2018. The annual production will total 25kt of lead sulphate and 25kt of copper/zinc sulphate.

The investment follows the ongoing investment of SEK 650 million (US$73.6 million) in the deep repository at Rönnskär, expected to be completed by 2020.