ZincOx Resources, PLC, a British zinc metal production company, recently announced that it is purchasing Big River Zinc, which recently closed its Sauget, Ill., facility, and expand the plant as part of its $57.1 million investment. The facility expansion will create 140 jobs over the next two years, employing many of the workers who were laid off when the previous company closed. The $2 million incentives package is part of the state’s Opportunity Returns program.

ZincOx Resources is seeking to build a portfolio of zinc products and has developed a processing approach to recover zinc from unconventional resources, which includes extracting zinc from biohazard materials. The company is purchasing Big River Zinc (BRZ), a subsidiary of Korea Zinc Co., Ltd, which announced it would be closing its Sauget plant last December. It will also expand and upgrade the facility to allow for the implementation of this technology in refining zinc.

The BRZ closing resulted in the lay-offs of production and maintenance employees who were members of the United Steel Workers Local 0347. ZincOx plans to reinstate the union and bring back many of these employees.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from all stakeholders likely to be involved in the new Big River Zinc operation, not least from Gov. Blagojevich,” said Andrew Woollett, chairman of ZincOx. “This support has enabled us to plan for a fast track redevelopment of the facility, and we hope to be back in production before the end of next year. Our acquisition will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Big River Zinc and a starting point for what will become one of the most important zinc recycling operations in the USA.”

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is administering the business investment package, which includes Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) corporate income tax credits over the next 10 years based on job creation; Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) job training funds that will help enhance the skills of its workforce; as well as additional financial benefits, such as sales tax exemptions and tax credits for job creation, resulting from the company’s location within an Enterprise Zone.

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