Vale is closing one of the two furnaces at its Copper Cliff smelter in Sudbury, Ontario, starting in 2016 as it looks to cut costs. The change follows an announcement last year that Vale was reviewing its base metals business due to volatile market conditions and operating cost challenges affecting the overall mining sector. The idling of one furnace will significantly cut costs associated with the company's previously announced Clean AER (atmospheric emissions reduction) project at the site, which is now expected to cost only $1 billion instead of $2 billion as previously announced.