Stéphane Leblanc Joins CiDRA Board of Directors

WALLINGFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CiDRA Holdings LLC, the parent company of CiDRA Minerals Processing Inc., is proud to announce the appointment of Stéphane Leblanc to its Board of Directors. Stéphane brings a wealth of experience and expertise to CiDRA, having retired as Managing Director/CEO at Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium in 2022. During his tenure at Rio Tinto, Stéphane was instrumental in driving significant growth and operational enhancements across operations in Canada, South Africa, Madagascar, and China, managing 8,000 employees and contractors with $2 billion in sales revenue. His commitment to safety and technological advancements, particularly in Green Smelting, Titanium, Lithium, and Rare Earth production, underscores his capability to lead in innovation-driven environments.

Before his role at Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium, Stéphane served as Managing Director/President at Rio Tinto Kennecott, where he spearheaded financial and operational improvements and facilitated cultural transformations. Prior to Kennecott, he was the General Manager at Rio Tinto Alcan Sebree Smelter, where he managed 500 union employees and $400 million in sales revenue. His noteworthy achievements include a 75% reduction in the recordable injury rate, successful negotiation of labor contracts and incentives, and the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives.

“Stéphane's strategic vision and operational acumen have consistently driven safety, productivity, and profitability improvements throughout his career. His extensive experience in managing operations across multiple countries and his dedication to leveraging technological advancements for operational improvement make him an invaluable asset to CiDRA,” said Dr. David Huber, Chairman of the Board of CiDRA Holdings LLC.

About CiDRA Minerals Processing Inc.

CiDRA Minerals Processing Inc. is a leading supplier of process optimization products and services in the mining industry. Its SONARtrac^® Flow Meters are the industry standard for slurry flow and entrained air measurement technology, and its CYCLONEtrac Particle Size Tracking system is the leading technology for providing particle size measurement for individual hydrocyclones. These technologies optimize processes, enhance recoveries, and contribute to sustainable resource management. With a global presence, CiDRA currently serves over 327 mine sites in 71 countries.

CiDRA recently introduced groundbreaking engineered media mineral recovery technology, drawing upon a century of traditional flotation and reagent knowledge while eliminating the limitations associated with flotation bubbles. This transformative development in mineral recovery enables the retrieval of coarse particles of up to 2 mm with less than 1% mineral surface expression, achieving unparalleled recovery rates of 85% to 95% for very coarse feed streams within a brief retention time of under 3 minutes. The engineered media's high hydrophobicity, with an adjustable contact angle exceeding 135 degrees, allows seamless integration with traditional flotation pulp chemistries, facilitating easy circuit integration for brownfield expansions.

Key advantages of CiDRA's technology include a 20% to 40% reduction in grind energy and a potential 40% increase in water recovery, delivering high upgrade ratios with comparatively low mass pull. CiDRA's strategic applications, the Grind Circuit Rougher and Rougher Pre-Cleaner, significantly enhance plant throughput, recovery, and net metal production while reducing specific energy consumption. These initiatives align seamlessly with CiDRA's commitment to responsible and sustainable resource utilization, addressing the global demand for raw materials.