Glencore Xstrata reopened its 80,000 t/y Porto Vesme Kivcet smelter in Sardinia in February 2013. The operation had been under care and maintenance since 2009. Bullion is shipped to the nearby San Gavino refinery which produced 76,000t of refined lead in 2008, the last calendar year before production was suspended. Although listed as primary unit, the Kivcet technology can, and is, used to treat feed from secondary sources too. Trade data show that Italy imported 104,000t of lead concentrate (gross weight) in the twelve months to November 2008.
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