We should all be able to breathe a little easier with Ontario Mining Association member North American Palladium’s plans for expanding production. Palladium is resistant to oxidation and high temperature corrosion and is useful in eliminating harmful emissions from internal combustion engines. Autocatalysts are the major end use product of palladium, converting more than 90% of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen into carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapour.
The company’s Lac des Iles mine, which is located approximately 85 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, has been in production since 1993. It has about 200 employees and it is one of only two primary palladium mines in the world.
At this time, North American Palladium’s Lac des Iles mine is involved in a multi-faceted $270 million mine expansion program. The goal is to increase production from 95,000 ounces of palladium in 2010, to 165,000 ounces in 2011 and then gradually building up to 250,000 ounces in 2015 at significantly reduced cash costs, which are expected to be less that $150 (US) per ounce. The current palladium price is in the $800 (US) per ounce range.