The Quebec government has issued a certificate to the controversial Horne Foundry in Rouyn-Noranda, paving the way for its reauthorization in a few weeks.
The Ministry of the Environment confirmed on Thursday morning the news first reported by The Press and Radio-Canada, according to which a certificate had been sent to the owner company, Glencore.
The ministry said Glencore has two to four weeks to provide comments, after which clearance will be issued. The details of the authorization document will then be made public.
The Horne Foundry saga has caused a lot of ink to flow in recent months, due to the arsenic emissions that the plant releases into the environment.
Last August, Glencore announced the investment of $500 million to reach an arsenic emission threshold of 15 nanograms per cubic meter of air (ng/m3) in 2027, as requested by the Quebec authorities of public health and the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change (MELCC).
Before hitting the 15 ng/m3 limit in the summer of 2027, the smelter plans to hit a target of 65 ng/m3 next year and 45 ng/m3 in 2025.
Currently, the agreement with the government allows the foundry’s emissions to reach an annual average of 100 ng/m3, or 33 times more than the Quebec standard.
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