Altonorte modified to produce moly

Toronto’s Falconbridge Ltd. reports that it has completed the modifications on a former copper roaster at the Altonorte copper smelter near Antofagasta, and has started producing molybdenum trioxide. The modifications involved changing the material-handling systems and the addition of dedicated environmental control equipment.

The $6-million project was designed earlier this year and construction began in March. Production started on June 29 and achieved design capacity of 32 tonnes of molybdenum concentrate per day after a week and a half.

In 2004, the Altonorte smelter produced 266,440 tonnes of copper.

The European average price for molybdenum during the second quarter of 2005 was US$35.62/lb.