Glencore Canada has announced the resumption of work on air emissions reduction projects at the Horne Smelter, following the passage of Bill 11. This legislation establishes a stable regulatory framework for the smelter's operations through 2033, providing the certainty needed to move forward with environmental investments.
Regulatory Stability Enables Progress
With Bill 11 now in effect, Glencore Canada is progressively restarting its projects aimed at reducing air emissions at the Horne Smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The company expressed gratitude to the Government of Quebec for its role in delivering the regulatory stability essential for these long-term initiatives.
Marc Bédard, Chief Operating Officer of Custom Metallurgical Assets at Glencore, stated: "We are pleased to announce today that we are progressively resuming our investments in the Horne Smelter air emissions reduction projects. We commend the Government of Quebec for its role in providing needed regulatory stability. These projects, once complete, will cement the Horne's position among the highest-performing copper smelters in the world in terms of environmental performance."
Strategic Importance of Domestic Copper Smelting
Canada's only copper smelter, the Horne Smelter, faces a challenging environment marked by intensifying global competition, rising tariffs, and ongoing supply chain disruptions. The facility's role in economic resilience and national sovereignty has never been more critical. Governments worldwide have recognized the strategic importance of domestic refining in the critical minerals value chain, with many jurisdictions introducing targeted measures to support modernization and ensure long-term competitiveness.
While Canada has identified critical minerals and secure supply chains as strategic priorities, federal support has yet to match this ambition. Existing programs to support key industrial assets exist, but the pace of implementation has not caught up with the urgency on the ground.
Call for Federal Support
Glencore Canada is urging the federal government to match provincial efforts with timely and concrete support through the Strategic Response Fund. The company emphasizes that federal backing is essential to secure the economic viability of the smelter and the substantial investments needed for the modernization and competitiveness of the Horne Smelter and CCR Refinery.
"The regulatory certainty provided by the Government of Quebec, along with its existing targeted programs, speaks to how much the province values the copper sector," said Bédard. "What remains is decisive federal action to solidify Canada's commitment. Government of Canada support is critical to unlocking future capital investment that will ensure the future of Canada's last copper smelter and refinery."
Commitment to Environmental and Economic Performance
The Horne Smelter has consistently demonstrated its ability to meet commitments to workers and environmental targets. With the right federal partnership, Canada could secure a midstream anchor worthy of its critical minerals ambition. The Horne Smelter is Canada's last copper smelter and one of the largest recyclers of end-of-life electronic products in North America. The CCR Refinery, located in Montreal's East End, completes this value chain by refining copper and other critical metals essential to Canada's energy transition and economic resiliency.
According to a 2026 KPMG socioeconomic study, Glencore's Canadian copper operations supported more than 2,330 direct, indirect, and induced jobs in 2024, contributing $1.221 billion in direct GDP.
