RNS Number:5772Q
Inco Ld
06 October 2003



               INCO CELEBRATES HYDROMET MINI-PILOT PLANT OPENING


MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, October 3, 2003 - Inco today celebrated a significant
milestone in its Voisey's Bay research and development program with the official
opening of a mini-pilot plant in Sheridan Park, Mississauga to test its
hydrometallurgical processing technology for Voisey's Bay concentrates.


"Our success with this technology will play an important part in the future of
our Voisey's Bay nickel-copper-cobalt project, and will also help to position
Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador at the forefront of mineral processing
technology worldwide," said Inco Chairman and CEO Scott Hand.


"Today marks another substantial step forward in the development plan for
Voisey's Bay," said Walter Noel, Minister of Mines and Energy for Newfoundland
and Labrador. "With the official launch of the mini-pilot plant phase of this
project, Inco continues to demonstrate that it is living up to its commitments
in the Development Agreement. This project will create hundreds of jobs for
generations to come and inject billions of dollars into the provincial economy."


Inco's US $134 million research and development program for Phase One of the
Voisey's Bay project is aimed at confirming the commercial application of
hydrometallurgical technology, or hydromet, to treat Voisey's Bay concentrates.
Hydromet technology offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly
alternative to conventional smelting and refining.


Inco is developing its hydromet technology for Voisey's Bay in four stages:
bench-scale laboratory testing, which is already completed; the mini-pilot
plant; a demonstration plant; and a commercial plant. The demonstration plant
and commercial plant will both be built in Newfoundland and Labrador.


"This is the same step-by-step process that we have used successfully to develop
the hydrometallurgical technology at our Goro project in New Caledonia. Quite
simply, it's the right way to develop a project of this scale," said Mr. Hand.


Hydromet has several key advantages over a conventional smelting and refining
process. It is more economical in terms both of capital and operating expenses,
more energy efficient, and more environmentally friendly, eliminating the
sulphur dioxide and dust emissions associated with a conventional smelter.


"This is not experimental technology, " said Scott Hand. "It's been around for a
long time. We're confident that our in-house expertise in hydromet, combined
with our step-by-step approach to R&D, will make this technology a big winner
for us at Voisey's Bay."


He noted that Inco's long-standing strength in R&D is playing a major role in
both of its expansion projects at Goro and Voisey's Bay. "Our research and
development strength has never been more important than it is right now, and
it's helping to drive the biggest growth period in our company's history," he
said.


Some eleven co-op students and recent graduates from Newfoundland and Labrador
are among 65 employees working at the mini-pilot plant. "We're helping these
young people develop the knowledge and skills now which they can take back to
Newfoundland and Labrador to help make this project a success in the years
ahead," Mr. Hand said.


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IN 03/34
October 3, 2003


For further information:

Media Relations:            Steve Mitchell            (416) 361-7950
Investor Relations:         Sandra Scott              (416) 361-7758
or www.inco.com



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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