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Horne Smelter

Air quality

Reducing our impact on the environment and the community has long been a key priority for Horne Smelter. We aim to comply with all applicable environmental standards, and are taking steps to achieve our annual targets.

Ambient air quality

Emissions data for the Horne Smelter is now available via an interactive map.

  • View data

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  • FAQ

    Questions concerning the data

    Consult the FAQ page

Currently, around 99% of Rouyn-Noranda's urban perimeter is at 15 ng/m3 of arsenic or less.

Since 2005, the average annual concentration of arsenic in ambient air at the legal station has decreased by over 70% thanks to the implementation of numerous projects.

  • Construction of concentrate storage domes

  • Acquisition of vacuum and water trucks

  • Installation of a truck wheel cleaning station

  • Construction of a windbreak fence

  • Installation of two domes and a shelter for receiving concentrates

  • Optimization of the fugitive gas capture network in the anode sector

Annual arsenic averages at the Horne legal station from 2005 to 2023 (in ng/m3)

Parameters regulated in the ministerial authorisation

As of Q3 2024 (16 March to 15 December 2024)

All data presented is in ng/m3

  • Arsenic

    42.2

    annual standard: 45

  • Cadmium

    8.5

    annual standard: 9

  • Lead

    193.7

    annual standard: 350

  • Nickel (pm10)

    6.4

    annual standard: 20

  • Beryllium

    0.050

    annual standard: 0.4

  • Antimony

    3.5

    annual standard: 170

  • Thallium

    0.6

    annual standard: 250

  • Vanadium

    0.5

    annual standard: 1,000

  • Transitional and optimization projects

    Learn more

  • Aeris modernization project

    Learn more

Le soufre est un élément naturellement contenu dans les concentrés de cuivre que l’on reçoit des mines. Combiné à l’oxygène injecté dans nos fours pour le procédé de purification du cuivre, il se transforme sous l’état gazeux, en dioxyde de soufre. 

  • Sulphuric acid plant

    Our sulphuric acid plant enables us to capture over 96% of the sulphur contained in the concentrates we receive from the mines.

Intermittent control system

We have existing procedures for controlling SO2 emissions in order to limit our impact on the community, such as the intermittent control system mode.

This system, which consists of slowing down our operations at the Noranda Converter, comes into operation when there are winds affecting the town. This reduces SO2 emissions at the stack, thereby limiting plume downwash.

In 2024, we activated the ICS mode more than 350 times to minimize SO2 emissions.

(available in french only)