FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact:          Christi Dixon or Nick Sargent

            (314) 469-3500, ext. 137 or 130

cdixon@standingpr.com or nsargent@standingpr.com

 

DOE RUN SELECTS HERCULANEUM, MO., FOR PROPOSED

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY LEAD METAL PROCESSING PLANT

 

ST. LOUIS (May 16, 2011) – The Doe Run Company today announced it has selected Herculaneum, Mo., as the location for the company’s proposed lead metal processing plant. The proposed new plant would be built on company property, near its existing lead smelter. The company will discontinue smelting lead concentrates at Herculaneum by the end of 2013. Doe Run is on track with the commercial development of the process, and intends to have the new plant operational to coincide with plans to discontinue primary smelting.

 

“Selecting the site at this point in the process allows us to gather detailed engineering studies, which will provide us with final capital and operational expense estimates, key inputs needed for our decision-making,” said Gary Hughes, general manager of Doe Run’s Primary Smelting Division. Herculaneum, Festus, Crystal City and Jefferson County have all indicated support for this new plant. Their support, our available workforce and existing infrastructure all make Herculaneum a good choice. We are eager to continue through the decision-making process.”

 

In March 2010 Doe Run announced a revolutionary new lead metal production process that virtually eliminates all lead air emissions and eliminates sulfur dioxide emissions by replacing traditional high temperature furnace smelting with a new, contained wet chemical process. The technology uses a chemical solution to selectively dissolve lead into solution. An electrical charge is then applied to the solution to attract lead ions, to a metal plate. The process also eliminates the production of slag, a granular byproduct that has to be stored in permitted storage areas.

 

“We’re pleased to be selected as the U.S. site for this proposed technology,” said Bill Haggard, mayor of Herculaneum. “We recognize that there are many pieces that have yet to fall into place for Doe Run, but knowing that they are moving forward with our city in mind is very reassuring. The company provides a strong economic base to our community, and keeping jobs and the tax base here is important to the city and Jefferson County.”

                                                                                                                   

The company expects to spend the next several months completing the detailed engineering and pre-construction services. Company executives plan to present final capital and operating costs to their board before year’s end for a decision on whether to build the first commercial plant in the U.S.

 

“Each step along our way has been backed by thorough research and validated data,” Hughes added. “We continue to move closer to building the world’s first primary lead-metal production plant that addresses concerns about air pollution. This is a world-changing opportunity. Having a way to support our domestic battery manufacturers and other customers with the primary lead metal they need not only protects the environment, but also protects U.S. industry.”