Canada’s Teck resumes lead smelting at British Columbia facility

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TORONTO, Aug 28 (Reuters) – Canadian diversified miner Teck Resources Ltd said on Tuesday that lead smelting had resumed at its Trail, British Columbia, facility after a seven-day suspension because of wildfires in the province.

Teck shut down lead smelting on Aug. 19 because the flash smelting technology requires high-purity oxygen, which an on-site plant could not supply because of poor air quality. Zinc operations at the complex were unaffected.

Trail operations have returned to normal, said spokesman Chris Stannell. “Regional air quality conditions continue to be actively monitored,” he added.

In June, Vancouver-based Teck forecast Trail production at 65,000 tonnes of refined lead for 2018.

There are more than 500 wildfires burning in British Columbia, which declared a state of emergency on Aug. 15. Weekend rain and cooler temperatures have helped fire-fighting efforts.

(Reporting by Susan Taylor; Editing by Peter Cooney)