Nyrstar Budel, located in the Netherlands, has successfully completed one of its most significant turnarounds in decades, involving over 700 contractors and 71 days of dedicated work. This extensive project was undertaken amidst rising energy and operational costs, with a focus on maintaining safety, efficiency, and reliability at the site for the long term. The turnaround included the installation of a new roaster, replacing equipment that had been in use for over 50 years, showcasing the technical expertise required to hoist a 150-tonne section into place. Additionally, new absorption towers for sulphuric acid have been installed, alongside enhancements to the sulfuric acid plant.
As a vital component of the Dutch metals industry, Nyrstar Budel supports approximately 1,700 jobs in North Brabant and employs a fully electrified electrolysis process for zinc refining. The team is now positioned to scale up the output of critical materials as by-products of their existing operations. In light of this transformation, Nyrstar is urging government support for long-term capital expenditure (CAPEX) initiatives, advocating for measures such as strategic stockpiling, offtake agreements, and price support mechanisms to alleviate structural energy cost challenges.
The company’s commitment to industrial resilience is encapsulated in their #KeepBuildProtect campaign, which emphasises that the actions taken today will shape the future of the industry. The successful completion of this turnaround not only enhances operational capabilities but also reinforces Nyrstar’s role in the sustainable production of critical minerals, essential for various industries and technologies.
