The Horne smelter says the concentration of arsenic it emitted into the air in 2022 was 73 nanograms per cubic meter (ng/m3), i.e. less than in 2021, but more than in 2020.
In a document published on its site, Glencore Canada indicates that for the last year, “the annual average in arsenic at the legal station” of the Horne smelter in Rouyn-Noranda “is 73.1 ng / m3which confirms that our reduction projects are working”.
The smelter therefore emitted 24 times more arsenic on average in 2022 than the provincial standard, which is 3 ng/m3.
“The results correspond to the expected performance of the atmospheric emissions reduction plan” and “we are working to ensure that this trend continues and thus be able to meet our commitment to reach the annual average of 65 ng / m3 starting in 2023,” Glencore Canada said in a statement.
The plant of the multinational Glencore is at the center of a controversy since, for several years, it has been emitting arsenic emissions much higher than the Quebec standard and public health has long recognized the risks associated with this chemical element.
Currently, the agreement with the government, which was signed in 2017, allows emissions from the smelter to reach an annual average of 100 ng/m3i.e. 33 times more than the norm.
This agreement is about to end. The Government of Quebec also issued a new certificate to the controversial foundry last January.
The Minister of the Environment, Benoit Charette, has not yet advanced on the new standard that the company Glencore will have to respect concerning the arsenic emitted by its foundry, but the details of the authorization document will soon be made public.
Last August, Glencore announced an investment of $500 million to achieve an arsenic emission threshold of 15 nanograms per cubic meter of air in 2027, as requested by Quebec public health authorities and the Ministry environment and the fight against climate change.
Before reaching the 15 ng/m limit3 in the summer of 2027, the foundry plans to arrive at a target of 65 ng/m3 this year and 45 ng/m3 in 2025.