This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
MAGNA - Kennecott Utah Copper Corp. says it will build a molybdenum (ma-LIB-DE'nem) smelter near Magna.
Molybdenum, a byproduct of copper production, is used in high-strength steel alloys. It's also a key ingredient in oil refining.
A groundbreaking is set for Tuesday.
Kennecott says the $270 million Molybdenum Autoclave Processing facility will run on clean energy and reduced emissions. It's not saying what kind of energy until the dedication ceremony.
Tom Albanese, chief executive of Kennecott parent company Rio Tinto, says China and India are big buyers of molybdenum.
The silvery white metal has many applications - it's used to make car hoods stiffer, for example. It's also used in the points on spark plugs that fire everyday engines.
