Another body blow; Vale Inco company extends shutdown to three months (add your comment)

Posted By DENIS ST. PIERRE, THE SUDBURY STAR

Updated 12 hours ago

The global economic crisis is being blamed as Sudbury's mining industry -- and the community at large -- suffers another blow.

More than 4,000 Vale Inco employees will be off work for three months due to an extended shutdown of Sudbury operations announced by the company Thursday.

"Vale announces it has taken further steps to adjust its nickel production to the evolution of global demand," the company reported in a news release issued at the end of the business day.

"Vale is shutting down for a period of eight weeks -- from June 1 to July 27 -- its nickel mining and processing facilities at Sudbury," the release stated.

The eight-week shutdown will be in addition to a previously-announced, month-long shutdown of Vale's Sudbury operations in May. Vale's precious metals processing facility in the Niagara region community of Port Colborne also will be shut down for June and July, the company said.