Aurubis inaugurates new recycling plant in Olen to recover more valuable metals 

Today, multimetal producer Aurubis inaugurated an innovative recycling plant at its site in Olen (Belgium). Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele and Mayor of Olen Kris Gebruers were in attendance. The inauguration marks another key achievement in Aurubis’ strategic roadmap. The investment is an important addition to the international smelter network of Aurubis and maximizing synergies within it. 

Aurubis is launching a state-of-the-art and energy-efficient hydrometallurgical bleed treatment plant with BOB (Bleed treatment Olen Beerse). Using a hydrometallurgical process, BOB recovers valuable metals such as nickel and copper contained in the electrolyte streams generated in the tankhouses during metal production at the Aurubis sites in Beerse and Olen (both in Belgium). With this project Aurubis is keeping even more strategically relevant metals for Europe in the loop. 

“BOB clearly demonstrates our commitment to innovation and a circular economy. With this facility, we are taking recycling to the next level, as it allows us to optimally process the valuable metals from dynamic and continuously changing input materials and recycling markets. We are committed to expanding our leading role in sustainability in line with our Tomorrow Metals promise and we continuously strive to use resources even more responsibly. With BOB, we are strengthening our core business and further contributing to the European circular economy,” COO Multimetal Recycling of Aurubis Group Inge Hofkens stated.