Doe Run Partners with Local Universities for Global Student Exchange Project
Students travel to Doe Run Peru to gain international experience and lend fresh perspectives on operations.
St. Louis, MO (PRWEB via PR Web
Direct) April 27, 2005 -- The Doe Run Company recently embarked on an
innovative cross-cultural educational program known as the Global Student
Exchange Project with the University of Missouri, Rolla (UMR). Doe Run's unique
position as a global leader in metallurgy gave UMR exchange students an
opportunity to gain practical experience on an international level.
From
March 27 through April 4, six UMR mining and civil engineering students traveled
abroad to tour Doe Run Peru facilities and conduct field assessments of the
company's La Oroya smelter and Cobriza mines. Doe Run provided housing
accommodations for the students at the company's facilities in Peru, round-trip
airfare, meals and in-country travel expenses. Later this year, Doe Run will
welcome a group of Peruvian exchange students to its Southeast Missouri Mining
and Milling Division (SEMO) in Viburnum, Mo. Not only will the trip help fulfill
educational requirements, but it will also give the students an international
advantage as they pursue mining education at Peruvian universities.
In
addition to observing Doe Run Peru's mining and smelting operations, the
multinational team will also study Doe Run's latest environmental innovations
and community involvement in Peru. Upon completion of the project, expected late
2005, UMR students with their Peruvian counterparts will present Doe Run with a
detailed report, including considerations for improving Doe Run Peru's
efficiency and operations.
"This is a wonderful opportunity that allows
our students to put their mining, metallurgical and environmental knowledge to
work," said Jerry Tien, associate professor of mining and engineering studies at
UMR. "Our students were interested to learn about Doe Run’s operations and were
amazed to see their commitment to safety and community development. We're
excited to apply our knowledge in these areas and determine if we can help Doe
Run further improve its operations."
Doe Run Peru has invested more than
$140 million on facility and environmental improvements since purchasing the
Peruvian smelter from the government-run Centromin in 1997. The company
continues to implement community programs in Peru, including those that support
education, agriculture, health, sanitation and community sustainability.
Meanwhile, the plant continues to work to reduce plant emissions, which are at
historic lows.
"We're constantly looking for ways to improve our
facilities, and this opportunity allows us a unique chance to get several fresh
perspectives," said Bob Roscoe, co-general manager at SEMO and Doe Run's Cobriza
Mine. "We’re excited to participate in a project that has the potential to
enhance our facilities, while at the same time enabling students to gain the
vital experience they'll need to compete at a global level. We've worked with
UMR on several occasions and we're delighted to share our expertise with them to
educate the next generation of metallurgists and mine engineers."
The
Doe Run Company, along with its subsidiaries, is a privately held natural
resource company
focused on environmentally sound mineral production,
recycling and metals fabrication. Based in St. Louis, the company and its
subsidiaries serve as North America's largest integrated lead producer and
third-largest total lead producer worldwide, employing more than 4,000 people.
The company and its employees are committed to keeping its operations and
communities clean and safe while producing essential raw materials – lead, zinc,
copper, gold and silver – that are needed for everyday life. Doe Run and its
subsidiaries have U.S. operations in Missouri, Washington and Arizona, and South
American operations in Peru. For more information, visit http://www.doerun.com.
Editor's Note: A photo of the
UMR students in Peru is available in JPG format. Please contact Kristin Saunders
at ksaunders @ standingpr.com or (314) 469-3500 for the file.
Contact:
Christi Dixon
e-mail protected from spam
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314-469-3500
http://www.doerun.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/4/prweb234357.htm