PASAR suffers damage due to Yolanda

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation (PASAR) yesterday announced that its copper processing plant in Leyte sustained “heavy” damages after the onslaught of Typhoon ‘Yolanda.’

In a statement, the company said the extent of damages and the impact on the smelting and refining facilities is still being determined.

“Initial assessments confirm that PASAR has sustained heavy structural damage to its operations. Preliminary estimates put a return to normal operations of at least four to six weeks,” said Pasar.

“Our thoughts are with those employees and their families who have been impacted by Yolanda. PASAR will offer all necessary support where we can,” it added.

The PASAR plant is majority- owned by Swiss commodities giant Glencore Xstrata and is the Philippines’ only copper smelter.

Produced in the plant are electrolytic copper cathodes, refined copper anode, dore metal, granulated slag, selenium powder and sulfuric acid.

The plant occupies 80 hectares in the 424-hectare Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE) and has the capacity to produce more than 215,000 metric tons of Grade A electrolytic copper cathodes per year.

It ships copper cathodes to China, South Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and the domestic market.

Copper cathodes are consumed primarily by wire and brass mills where the cathodes are re-melted, poured and cast into wire rod, billets, cakes or ingots, generally as pure copper or alloyed with other metals.

In January 2012 year, the plant ceased production for about six months after a fire damaged its acid plant, resuming operations in July 2012.

The PASAR plant complex includes pollution abatement facilities, port and bulk handling facilities, an airstrip, a medical facility, as well as housing, recreational and educational facilities for personnel.