Vale Base Metals Begins Multi-Year Dismantling of Iconic Stacks at Sudbury’s Copper Cliff Smelter

Vale Base Metals (VBM) announced on Wednesday that it is moving ahead with the dismantling of the copperstack and superstack at the Copper Cliff smelter complex in Sudbury, Ontario. This marks the next phase in the company’s efforts to modernize its Canadian operations.

The project stems from a multi-billion-dollar investment program unveiled in 2010, which included C$1 billion dedicated to modernizing VBM’s Sudbury facilities through the Clean AER initiative. This initiative successfully reduced sulfur dioxide emissions by 100,000 metric tonnes annually, lowering emissions to 30% below the provincial standard. The superstack has been inactive since 2020.

The dismantling of the copperstack will be completed first, with work set to finish by 2025, while the superstack's dismantling will follow, taking approximately five years. The entire process will adhere to strict safety protocols, with efforts made to minimize disruptions to the local community.

Gord Gilpin, VBM’s director of Ontario operations, acknowledged the significance of the copperstack and superstack as landmarks in Greater Sudbury but emphasized the importance of moving forward. "Our business has evolved and improved over time, and this project is part of that evolution. We are modernizing our facilities and reducing our environmental footprint."

VBM is also seeking community input on three proposals to ensure the superstack continues to resonate with local residents.