Glencore Canada Corporation announced the permanent closure of the Brunswick Lead Smelter in Belledune, New Brunswick. The decommissioning process will begin immediately and the smelter will cease all operations by the end of the year.
“The decision to cease lead smelting operations at our Brunswick Smelter was a very difficult one. Despite years of efforts by committed employees and a strong management team, the smelter has been uneconomic since the closure of the Brunswick Mine in 2013. We have thoroughly assessed all our options and come to the unavoidable conclusion that the smelter is simply not sustainable, regardless of the recent labor dispute,” said Chris Eskdale, Glencore’s head zinc and lead assets.
The Brunswick smelter opened in 1966 and employs approximately 420 people. All affected employees will be treated with fairness and respect through the closure process. Glencore intends to provide pension, severance and outplacement support services for all employees.
Published in the March 2020 Edition
