Nyrstar to Resume Full Production at Balen Zinc Smelter at End of 1Q

SHANGHAI, Jan. 20 -- Belgium zinc producer Nyrstar S.A. is on track to return its Balen zinc smelter to 100% full operating capacity at the end of the first quarter, a company spokesman said Tuesday.

Balen zinc smelter is one of the largest zinc smelters in the world, and a company spokesman Geert Lambrechts said this smelter has been operated at a rate of 70% since it restarted in mid-September, and plans to resume full production at the end of 1Q.

Nyrstar shut down Balen zinc smelter in November 2008, since zinc prices slumped to a 4-year low due to financial crisis.

Zinc prices have risen by 32% since mid-September 2009, up over one times compared with late 2008 levels. In other news, Balen zinc smelter is able to produce 270,000 mt of cathode zinc when it operates at full capacity.

(Edited by SMM)