100% Nyrstar
Zinc Smelting and Alloying Operation
The Auby smelter is located in the north of France, and is a medium-scale smelter with a capacity of 135,000 tonnes of zinc, with plans to increase to 160,000 tonnes by the end of 2008. Due to the nature of its customers’ requirements, Auby sells its zinc production in cathode form rather than refined slab metal. The majority of site production is sold to the Umicore building products plant located adjacent to the site, as well as to Nyrstar Balen/Overpelt for conversion into alloys. In addition to producing standard zinc cathodes, the plant also produces a significant quantity of higher quality battery-grade cathodes. The site’s by-products include sulphuric acid, Auby leach product, copper and an indium concentrate.
