MatteSeparation

FBR

MYN(Metallics/PGM)

MF(Mild Ni)

MR(High Ni)

CrushedBM

Re�nery

Copper Cliff Smelter ComplexSmelter Flowsheet

Nickel oxide Nickel oxide is a hazardous material and there are a number of controls within the Smelter Operations designed to mitigate risk of exposure.

Controls include :Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment is required when handling nickel oxide, including gloves, safety glasses, and dust respirator.

Occupational Health Monitoring is conducted (personal and area).

Multiple baghouses are used to collect dust from conveyance and storage systems.

Filter Plant FlashFurnaces

Slag Storage Pile

ConverterAisle

BULK CONCENTRATE

Casting and Crushing

BessemerMatte

Slag

Flash Furnace Matte

Nickel Oxide

Propane Use Propane is used at the Copper Cli� Smelter Complex as a source of heating fuel for both the General O�ce and Central Lab.

To prevent the release of propane into the environment, Vale follows standard operating procedures that include routine inspections as well as start-up and shutdown procedures.

Ore that has been ground to a �ne powder arrives at Vale’s Smelter from Clarabelle Mill and is sent to the Filter Plant for moisture removal. From there, the powder is roasted and then melted in the Smelter furnaces at 1300 degrees Celsius. This allows the metals to separate from a waste material called slag.

The metal rich material that is separated from the slag is converted into higher grade Bessemer matte. Bessemer Matte is then sent to Matte Processing where it is separated into di�erent nickel streams. Further processing takes place in the Fluid Bed Roaster (FBR), which converts Nickel Sulphide from separation to Nickel Oxide in preparation for further re�ning at the Copper Cli� Nickel Refnery and Clydach, Wales.

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Copper Cliff Smelter Complex:Hazard Reduction Timeline

1972

2006

2018

1991

2017

2013

2020

Superstack built to disperse processes gases, primarily sulphur dioxide (SO2)

Fluid Bed Roaster off-gas scrubbing technology installed. Reduced SO2 emissions by 60 kilotonnes per year.

Converter gases to be treated by new Wet Gas Cleaning Plant, further reducing sulphur dioxide emissions to the Superstack.

New Acid Plant begins operating to capture sulphur dioxide and turn into a liquid product the company could sell (sulphuric acid).

Smelter to become a single furnace operation.Copper production ends.

Most significant hazard reduction in the history of the Smelter’s operations: oleum and liquid SO2 eliminated from production.

Completion of the Clean AER Project and Superstack taken out of service. Will reduce SO2 emissions approximately 85% from current levels. The Clean AER Project will also reduce dust/metal and greenhouse gas emissions by 40%.