Xstrata asks for more time to meet emissions standards

Greater Sudbury citizens are invited to attend a Nov. 25 meeting focusing on Xstrata Nickel’s application to have longer to meet the province’s new air emissions guidelines for sulphur dioxide.

The meeting will be held between 2 and 8 p.m. at the Falconbridge Community Centre.

Marc Butler, director of regulatory affairs with Xstrata’s Sudbury operations, said the company has asked to have until 2015 to meet the province’s current standard of 0.25 parts per million of sulphur dioxide.

The company is currently emitting 0.34 parts per million of sulphur dioxide.

He said he hopes the Ministry of the Environment will make a ruling on Xstrata’s request within the first half of 2011.

Xstrata Nickel is planning investments in its Sudbury operations to meet the new environmental guidelines. Butler said he doesn’t know how much these investments will cost, but they could easily get up to hundreds of millions of dollars.

Vale announced recently that it will spend $1.5 to $2 billion on an atmospheric emissions reduction project.

It takes time to implement technology because it needs to be tested first on the ground, Butler said.

Anyone unable to attend the meeting and wants more information is asked to send Butler an e-mail at [email protected], and he’ll send out an information package.