Balen/Overpelt Smelter
OVERVIEW
Fast Facts
The Balen smelter is one of the world’s largest zinc smelters in
terms of production volume.
LOCATION: Balen and Overpelt, Belgium
TECHNOLOGY: roast, leach, electrolysis (RLE) smelting,
oxide washing
PRODUCTS: special high grade (SHG) zinc, zinc alloys
and sulphuric acid
EMPLOYEES: 552
PRODUCTION 2016: 236,000 tonnes zinc metal, 317.000
tonnes sulphuric acid
Operation at a glance
The Balen smelter is located in the north-east of Belgium, and is a
large-scale smelter.
The Overpelt plant is situated only 18 kilometers from Balen,
consisting of one of Europe’s largest oxide washing facilities, as well
as significant alloying and casting facilities.
PRODUCTION PROCESS AT BALEN/OVERPELT
Input
Concentrate
+ Oxides
Electricity
Process
Roasting
Leaching
Purification
Electrolysis
Casting
Gas Cleaning
Goethite
Process
Sulphuric Acid Plant Water Treatment
Output
Sulphuric
Acid
Water
Belgium
Goethiite
Lead/Silver,
Balen Leach
Product (BLP)
Copper Cobalt
Cake
Zinc & Alloys
The Balen and Overpelt sites are only 18 kilometres apart. The
sites’ operations are complementary and highly integrated.
Cathodes produced at Balen and Auby (France) are transported to
the centralised melting & casting facilities in Overpelt. In addition,
the Overpelt site includes one of Europe’s largest oxide washing
facilities that serves as a central washing facility for the pretreatment of purchased secondaries prior to their consumption
by the European Nyrstar smelters. As part of the casting facilities
upgrade, a new melting furnace and a completely automated
casting line were installed and commissioned in Overpelt in June
2010. SHG casting capacity at Overpelt amounted to 235.000
tonnes in 2016.
The Balen smelter produces zinc from feedstock of both zinc
concentrates and recycled zinc secondary feed materials. Balen’s
zinc concentrates are sourced from suppliers world-wide. The
Balen smelter can process a high percentage of secondary
feed material input without adversely affecting overall plant
productivity, efficiency or residue output. Concentrates
are transported by train from the port of Antwerp, a main
thoroughfare harbour for zinc concentrates. Secondary zinc feed
materials are delivered to the plant by truck.
The Balen and Overpelt operations produce SHG zinc and a range
of high value alloy products such as ZAMAK die casting alloy.
Balen also produces sulphuric acid, copper cement and Balen
Leach Product that contains lead and precious metals and is sold
as a raw material to secondary smelters.
Balen/Overpelt, and the world of Nyrstar
Balen/Overpelt, Belgium
AMSTERDAM
10
THE NETHERLANDS
11
12
Rotterdam
2
1
3
12
16
5 15
Antwerp
8
Budel
4
Balen/Overpelt
BRUSSELS
Lille
Auby
6 14
7
BELGIUM
13
FRANCE
9
Indicates neighbouring Nyrstar site
MINES/STREAMING AGREEMENTS
CORPORATE OFFICE
METALS PROCESSING
1
Auby, France
6
Contonga, Peru
11
Langlois, Canada
2
Balen/Overpelt, Belgium
7
Coricancha, Peru (non-core asset)
12
Myra Falls, Canada
3
Budel, The Netherlands
8
Fort Lauderdale, Miami, USA
13
Port Pirie, Australia
4
Campo Morado, Mexico
9
Hobart, Australia
14
Pucarrajo, Peru (non-core asset)
5
Clarksville, USA
10
Hoyanger, Norway
15
Tennessee Mines, USA
THE WORLD OF NYRSTAR
Nyrstar Balen is part of Nyrstar, a global multi-metals business, with
a market leading position in zinc and lead, and growing positions in
other base and precious metals, which are essential resources that are
fuelling the rapid urbanisation and industrialisation of our changing
world. Nyrstar has mining, smelting, and other operations located in
Europe, the Americas and Australia and employs approximately 4,300
people. Nyrstar is incorporated in Belgium and has its corporate office
in Switzerland. Nyrstar is listed on Euronext Brussels under the symbol
NYR.
Nyrstar is committed to providing a safe environment for our
employees, minimising our smelters’ and mines’ impact on the
environment and contributing to the communities in which we operate.
16
Zurich, Switzerland
HISTORY
In 1888, the Balen site began production of calcine (roasted zinc
ore) under the brand ‘Vieille Montagne’, followed by their first zinc
production only two years later.
In 1899, the roasting capacity doubled and a sulphuric acid plant was
added. Between 1910 and 1976, the site operated as an integrated
zinc-lead smelter organically growing to one of the largest roasting
facilities in the world nine years later. For the last eight decades, the
zinc smelter has used an electrolysis process to produce its zinc.
The site chronologically operated under the name Vielle Montagne,
Acec-Union Minière, Union Minière and Umicore - until Nyrstar was
born in 2007. Since 1976, the main focus of the plant remains the
production of zinc, zinc alloys and sulphuric acid.
Contact Information
Nyrstar Belgium
Zinkstraat 1
2490 Balen
Belgium
T +32 14 44 95 00
F +32 14 81 73 12
www.nyrstarbalenoverpelt.be
For more information please visit www.nyrstar.com
or email [email protected]. Learn about
career opportunities at nyrstar.com/careers
Please visit nyrstar.com for more information
© Nyrstar - March 2017