WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(CCNMatthews - Jan. 17, 2006) - HudBay Minerals
Inc. (TSX:HBM) (HudBay) confirms its wholly owned subsidiary, Hudson Bay
Mining and Smelting Co., Limited (HBMS), has finalized scheduling and
plans to proceed with the previously announced planned temporary
maintenance shutdown of its Flin Flon copper smelter during the second
quarter of 2006.
The planned 28-day copper smelter maintenance shutdown is primarily
to rebuild the reverberatory furnace, which is used to smelt copper and
is rebuilt regularly.
The impact on annual sales will be, in part, mitigated by management
of copper anode inventory between the copper smelter in Flin Flon,
Manitoba and the recently acquired copper refinery in White Pine,
Michigan, which produces copper cathode.
Similarly, during the second quarter of 2006, a routine planned
10-day annual maintenance shut down of the Flin Flon zinc plant, will be
undertaken for oxygen plant, autoclave, thickener and cell house
maintenance.
There will be no impact on annualized zinc metal production as a
result of the maintenance programs. HBMS' mines, concentrators and other
process plants will continue to operate during the planned shutdowns.
"The record five year period since our last copper smelter
reverberatory furnace rebuild is almost double our expectation and it is
a noteworthy achievement by our operations personnel," said Peter R.
Jones, President and CEO of HudBay. "Both the zinc plant and copper
smelter planned shutdowns have undergone extensive planning, which gives
us confidence that safety and productivity goals will be achieved.
About HudBay Minerals Inc.
HudBay Minerals Inc. is an integrated mining and metal producing
company that operates mines and concentrators in northern Manitoba and
Saskatchewan and a metal processing complex in Flin Flon, Manitoba. The
company also operates a zinc oxide production facility in Brampton,
Ontario and owns the former producing Balmat zinc mine in New York
State, which is being reopened.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain information regarding HudBay set forth in this document,
including management's assessment of HudBay s future plans and
operations contains forward looking statements that involve substantial
known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward looking
statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of
which are beyond HudBay s and management's control, including but not
limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry
conditions, fluctuation of commodity prices, risks related to the
integration of acquisitions, fluctuation of foreign exchange rates,
imperfection of reserve estimates, environmental risks, industry
competition, availability of qualified personnel and management, timely
and cost effective access to sufficient capital from internal and
external sources, and, additionally, factors related to temporary
maintenance shutdowns, the supply of parts, equipment and contract
personnel and the discovery of repair work that may be considered
necessary only when equipment at plant has been dismantled. HudBay's
actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from
those expressed in or implied by, these forward looking statements and
accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events
anticipated to occur or transpire from the forward looking statements
will provide any benefits to HudBay.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
HudBay Minerals Inc.
Tom Goodman
Vice President, Human Resources and Technical Services
(204) 687-2380
(204) 942-8177 (FAX)
tom.goodman@hbms.ca
www.hudbayminerals.com