By Pratima Desai

LONDON (Reuters) -Glencore is planning to close its Horne smelter, Canada’s largest copper metal-producing operation, due to environmental issues and the millions of dollars needed to upgrade the facility, two sources with knowledge of the matter said.

The London-listed miner does not disclose copper metal production figures for its Canadian operation, but industry sources estimate annual output at more than 300,000 metric tons.

The closure of Horne would reinforce forecasts of global shortages partly due to supply disruptions including accidents at mines in Indonesia and Chile.

Expectations of deficits in coming years have buoyed copper prices, which hit a record $11,200 a ton on October 29.

“Glencore is not currently considering the closure of the Horne smelter or C

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