TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Diversified miner Xstrata will suspend  copper operations at its Kidd Metallurgical site, in Timmins, Ontario, for between seven and ten weeks, partly as a result of the strike at rival Vale Inco's Sudbury operations.

The temporary closure of the copper smelter and refinery, prompted by a shortage of available third party copper concentrate, will begin in the week of September 7, Xstrata said.

“In addition to reduced shipments from some of Kidd’s regular suppliers, concentrate availability is being compounded by the current Vale Inco strike in Sudbury,” Kidd Metallurgical site GM Thompson Hickey said.

The company will temporarily lay off some staff, but has yet to finalise the numbers or for how long the layoffs will be in effect.

“We hope to be in a position to return to normal operations at the site as soon as possible,” Hickey said.

Kidd Metallurgical produces about 145 000 t/y of copper cathode.

Members of Vale Inco's biggest union in Sudbury downed tools on July 13, but the company announced this week it plans to restart partial production with the 1 200 staff that are not on strike.

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