Cominco Ltd. Information

Cominco, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, managed its international businesses through main subsidiary offices. London was one such office. As Technical Director, Cominco Europe Limited, was mainly responsible for the operational planning of the two lead-zinc mines in Spain, Rubiales and Troya, the Black Angel lead-zinc mine in Greenland and the Hondeklip Bay alluvial diamond mine in South Africa, including the preparation of one, five and ten year business plans, forecasts and budgets. Negotiated the technical details of a $25 million non-recourse, project loan for the Troya mine. Also co-ordinated a $40 million guaranteed loan for the Rubiales mine. These were with Canadian banks. In conjunction with our joint venture partners, Trans Hex of Cape Town, planned and designed the successful South African alluvial diamond mine at Hondeklip Bay. Board Director.Deputised as Mine Superintendent of the Black Angel lead-zinc mine in Greenland during 1985. This was an underground trackless room and pillar operation. Personally instigated a project to install a photometric ore sorter in the mine to upgrade mill feed, which was a technical success. Cominco's technical representative at the Tara lead-zinc mine in Ireland and alternative board director.Undertook many technical and financial studies as Cominco Europe looked for new business opportunities. Cominco Europe also ran a large exploration group in Belgium and several evaluations were conducted on the more promising projects. Teck assumed control of Cominco in 1987 and closed the London office as part of the new management regime. Although offered another position in Vancouver, for family reasons it was decided to stay in the UK.