BHP Billiton says smelter closure won't cut outputBy Alex...

BHP Billiton says smelter closure won't cut output

By Alex Wilson
Last Update: 3:37 AM ET Aug 17, 2007Print E-mail Subscribe to RSS Disable Live Quotes (Adds details on smelter closure and background)
MELBOURNE (MarketWatch) -- BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP.AU) said Friday it does not expect an incident that has forced the closure of the copper smelter at its Olympic Dam mine in South Australia to result in any loss of production.
The smelter was evacuated Thursday afternoon and six workers treated for smoke inhalation after water entered the electric furnace.
"We are still assessing the damage, but we are not forecasting any loss of production," a BHP spokeswoman said Friday.
BHP said the smelter remains closed and it is not yet clear when it will reopen.
The giant Olympic Dam mine at Roxby Downs produces copper, uranium, gold and silver. It produced 182,500 metric tons of copper cathode and 3,486 tons of uranium in the 2006-07 financial year.
BHP has plans for a massive US$5 billion plus expansion of the operation that could see increased output of up to 500,000 tons of copper and 15,000 tons of uranium a year.