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Horne Smelter

Air quality

Reducing our impact on the environment and the community has long been a key priority for Horne Smelter. We aim to comply with all applicable environmental standards, and are taking steps to achieve our annual targets.

Ambient air quality

Emissions data for the Horne Smelter is now available via an interactive map.

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  • FAQ

    Questions concerning the data

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The 2025 datas show that 96% of the urban area of Rouyn-Noranda records ambient arsenic concentrations at or below 15 ng/m³.

Data analysis confirms that concentrations decrease rapidly with distance from the smelter. At the Glencore Arena, located approximately 440 m from the site boundary, the annual average concentration is more than 75% lower than at the Horne legal station.

Annual average

The annual average arsenic concentration in ambient air at the Horne legal station is once again below the 45 ng/m³ threshold set by the ministerial authorization, at 40.9 ng/m³ for the year 2025 (March 16, 2025 to March 15, 2026). This result remains 44% below the value recorded in 2022. Since 2005, the reduction exceeds 70%.

Annual results for all parameters regulated under the ministerial authorization

In addition to arsenic, the ministerial authorization includes annual targets for other metals. All annual targets have been met for all parameters for the 2025 period (March 16, 2025, to March 15, 2026).

The annual results for all these parameters are presented below.

Since 2005, the average annual concentration of arsenic in ambient air measured at the legal station has decreased by over 70% thanks to the implementation of numerous projects.

  • Construction of concentrate storage domes

  • Acquisition of vacuum and water trucks

  • Installation of a truck wheel cleaning station

  • Construction of a windbreak fence

  • Installation of two domes and a shelter for receiving concentrates

  • Optimization of the fugitive gas capture network in the anode sector

Le soufre est un élément naturellement contenu dans les concentrés de cuivre que l’on reçoit des mines. Combiné à l’oxygène injecté dans nos fours pour le procédé de purification du cuivre, il se transforme sous l’état gazeux, en dioxyde de soufre. 

  • Sulphuric acid plant

    Our sulphuric acid plant enables us to capture over 96% of the sulphur contained in the concentrates we receive from the mines.

Intermittent control system

We have existing procedures for controlling SO2 emissions in order to limit our impact on the community, such as the intermittent control system mode.

This system, which consists of slowing down our operations at the Noranda Converter, comes into operation when there are winds affecting the town. This reduces SO2 emissions at the stack, thereby limiting plume downwash.

In 2024, we activated the ICS mode more than 350 times to minimize SO2 emissions.

(available in french only)