STOCKHOLM, Sweden, March 6, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Boliden's (TSE:BLS) (Other OTC:BDNNF) (Stockholm:BOL) subsidiary, Boliden Contech, has signed a SEK 40 million contract with the Chinese lead producer Western Mining.
Boliden is to construct and deliver equipment for a lead smelter, supervise the installation, as well as provide engineering and commissioning services. The new smelter will replace existing shaft furnaces, which have been condemned for environmental reasons.
The heart of the new smelter is a Kaldo furnace or TBRC, top blown rotary converter, to produce 50,000 ton crude lead per year. A condensing unit for sulphur dioxide is also included to enable production of sulphuric acid.
The new lead smelter will be located in central China close to the city of Xining in the Quinghai province.
Western Mining operates several lead mines and two refineries. The new smelter is expected to come into operation in approximately two years.
For further information, please contact:
Jan Johansson, President and CEO Boliden AB telephone: +46 8 610 1602 Jan Nilsson, Acting Managing Director Boliden Contech telephone +46 910 876 22 or +46 07 560 34 94.
Boliden is a metal-producing company with international operations. The company mines, processes and markets copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver. Boliden owns seven mines and two smelting plants in Sweden and one mine in Canada. The range of activities also includes sales of technology. Copper and brass products are manufactured at plants in Europe. The number of employees is approx. 3,800 and the turnover amounts to approx. 10 billion SEK annually. The Boliden share is quoted on the Stockholm Stock Exchange in Sweden as well as on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada. www.boliden.com
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