Horsehead to Explore Potential for New, Sustainable Zinc Plant
02/08/2011 - Horsehead Holding Corp. has completed a preliminary feasibility study to construct a 150,000 ton per year zinc plant based on state-of-the-art “green” technology.
Horsehead Holding Corp. has completed a preliminary feasibility study to construct a 150,000 ton per year zinc plant based on state-of-the-art “green” technology.
The proposed new facility will utilize a lower-cost, environmentally-friendly solvent extraction and electro-winning technology to convert electric arc furnace-based feed and other recycled materials into special high grade zinc and other zinc products. This facility, which would replace the existing capacity, will position Horsehead among the world’s low-cost zinc producers. The successful execution of this initiative will result in the sustainable production of zinc from recycled sources.
Initial work has commenced on basic design and engineering. The goal is to produce zinc at much lower costs, to significantly reduce air emissions and to provide opportunities for the company to not only serve its traditional hot-dip galvanizing and zinc oxide markets, but to also serve the broader market for special high grade zinc and the continuous galvanizing market as well.
Horsehead is considering numerous potential sites from multiple states for its new plant. The company’s criteria for site selection include electric power costs, environmental permitting process and requirements, labor costs and the value of incentives provided by state and local government. Horsehead’s Monaca, Pa., location is one of the sites under consideration.
Horsehead’s site selection process is expected to continue through Spring 2011. If the project is approved by the Board of Directors and financing is secured for the project, the Company hopes to begin construction of the new facility before the end of the year.
Horsehead Holding Corp. is the parent company of Horsehead Corp., a leading U.S. producer of specialty zinc and zinc-based products and a leading recycler of electric arc furnace dust, and The International Metals Reclamation Co. (INMETCO), a leading recycler of metals-bearing wastes and a leading processor of nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries in North America. Horsehead, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., employs approximately 1000 people and has seven facilities throughout the U.S.
