Doe Run Lead Production Loss Put At 6,500 Tons

Doe Run lead production loss put at 6,500 tons

Metal Bulletin, New York

31st August 2007

Doe Run Co., St. Louis, has lost 6,500 tons of lead output since an accident July 13 knocked out one furnace for several weeks and subsequent problems forced it to idle both furnaces at its Herculaneum, Mo., plant Aug. 22.

The company restarted one of the furnaces Tuesday but has not provided an estimate of when the second furnace will resume production. The nation's only primary lead producer has originally expected to have both furnaces back in operation by the end of August.

Doe Run said it is making efforts to cover its customers' needs from other sources.

"We're working with them directly to meet their needs," Jim Grubbs, the company's vice president of sales and marketing, said. "A significant part of the shortfall is being met by providing product from sister operations in Peru and from other sources."

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