Huntsman Corporation (Salt Lake City, Utah ) is to increase capacity for titanium dioxide pigment at its Billingham / UK site by 50,000 t/y. The expansion will be based on the company’s proprietary "Icon" chloride technology and will be operational in the second half of 2007. When fully completed in early 2008, annual capacity will reach 150,000 t. Huntsman says the expansion is the first of several major steps its pigments business plans to make over the coming months to further strengthen its global position in the titanium dioxide market.

EuroZinc Mining Corp. and Lundin Mining Corp., two Vancouver-based mining companies, agreed to merge, forming a copper and zinc producer with four profitable mines.

Existing EuroZinc and Lundin shareholders will own approximately 56,7% and 43,3% respectively, of the combined company, they said in a CCN statement today.

EuroZinc produces copper in Portugal. Lundin operates copper, zinc and lead mines in Sweden and Ireland.