IERC 2023 Preview interview with Raymond Langevoort, Manager Copper Raw Materials at Boliden, speaker at the International Electronics Recycling Congress IERC 2023.
ICM: Could you start by presenting Boliden and your activity in a few words?
Raymond Langevoort: Boliden is a base metals company, operating 5 mining areas of which the Aitik copper mine and Garpenberg zinc mine are the two largest mines operated in Sweden. The company’s smelter division operates 6 smelters; a secondary lead smelter in Bergsöe, Sweden, our Odda zinc smelter in Norway and Kokkola zinc smelter in Finland, the Rönnskär copper smelter in Sweden and Harjavalta copper smelter in Finland.
In Harjavalta, Finland we also operate a nickel smelter. Besides lead, zinc, copper and nickel, Boliden also produces by-products such as gold, silver, palladium and sulphuric acid. The Rönnskär copper smelter is one of the largest consumers of WEEE and other secondary raw materials as the last step in the recycling chain. What makes Rönnskär unique is the capability to handle hazardous elements in a sustainable manner. Besides this Rönnskär produces low carbon copper from primary raw materials as well as from secondary raw materials. The low carbon copper originating from concentrates produced by Boliden’s Aitik mine has the lowest carbon footprint around. This has been achieved by high efficiency, automation and electrification at the mine and smelter, and the low CO2 footprint electricity mix in Sweden.