At Argentia we have been proactive in our efforts to train potential employees for the hydromet demonstration plant. We continued to use the mini-pilot plant at Inco Technical Services Limited as a training ground by providing work term placements to College of the North Atlantic and Memorial University students and hiring graduates to support the mini-plant and to provide experience that is transferable to the demonstration plant at Argentia. We were consistent in achieving a 25% Newfoundland and Labrador workforce at the mini-pilot plant throughout the year.

Wayne Scott, Manager of Human Resources says “Hiring a core group from the mini-plant will ensure that we have experienced operators who have used this process before and experienced scientists and engineers who can pass on their knowledge to the demonstration plant operations team.” It is expected that 20-25 people will transfer from the mini-plant and these individuals will then conduct in-house training with the rest of the staff in Argentia beginning in August 2005. Most of the hiring for the 150 positions at the hydromet demonstration plant will occur from May through September 2005.