Operations

Smelters

Operations

Smelters

Operations

Smelters

Operations

Smelters

Operations

Smelters

Operations
Smelters

Mineral concentrate becomes pure quality metals

In our smelters we refine mineral concentrates from our own and other mines into pure metals. We are also the market leader in electronics recycling and lead recovery from car batteries. Constant streamlining and stable processes allow us to maximize the production of both metals and by-products in a strategy that provides a broader product range, lower residual waste in production and increased competitiveness. We also focus on safeguarding and developing our corporate responsibility in terms of health, safety and the environment at every level.

We mine complex ores, i.e. ores that contain several different metals The metals and other by-products are separated in smelting plants in a variety of different processes including smelting, calcination, leaching, purification and electrolysis before being cast as pure metals.

Our smelters produce mainly zinc ingots, copper cathodes, lead ingots, gold and silver granules and other products such as sulphuric acid, zinc clinker, sulphur dioxide and palladium concentrate.

Maximizing the production of metals and by-products makes a broader product portfolio possible while reducing waste to a minimum. In 2014, a new plant began operating at Kokkola for the extraction of silver from the zinc process. The end product is a silver concentrate, a by-product which is sold to external customers or turned into pure silver at Boliden’s own smelters.

A new business model for nickel was introduced in Harjavalta in 2015, in which Boliden sells nickel matte to external customers.

Boliden develops its own methods for waste disposal. The smelting plant at Odda disposes waste in an underground cavity and Rönnskär is building a unique storage around 350 metres underground that will begin use during 2021.

Underground storage is a long-term, sustainable solution for final disposal of smelter waste.

Find out more

Boliden Bergsöe

One of Europe’s largest recyclers of lead batteries

Boliden Harjavalta

Western Europe's biggest nickel producer

Boliden Kokkola

Europe's second biggest zinc producer

Boliden Odda

Major zinc and zinc alloy producer

Boliden Rönnskär

A world leader in recycling electronics