VANCOUVER, Aug. 18 /CNW/ - BioteQ Environmental Technologies Inc. (TSX- V:BQE) is pleased to announce the successful commissioning of the new tailings recovery plant at the Caribou site. To date approximately 15,000 tonnes of tailings have been treated. Second Stage of Expansion Complete ---------------------------------- The first stage of the expansion plan at Caribou was successfully commissioned in May with the startup of the High Density Sludge (HDS) lime circuit, as previously reported. The HDS plant was built to improve lime utilization efficiency and reduce the volume of sludge produced in the lime circuit. The second stage of the expansion plan at Caribou, a 50,000 tonne per year tailings treatment circuit, has now been commissioned. The tailings, deposited at the Caribou site by previous operators prior to ownership by CanZinco Ltd (a subsidiary of Breakwater Resources Ltd), contain mobile heavy metals, such as copper and zinc, and contribute to water contamination at the site. Initiated in June, the plant commissioning has been completed and the plant is now operating at the design capacity of 12,000 tonnes per month, on a campaign basis during the summer and fall seasons. The plant has treated approximately 15,000 tonnes since startup with the objective to treat 50,000 tonnes in total this year. CanZinco, the owner of the Caribou site, has agreed to an annual treatment fee of $165,000 for tailings treatment, or $3.30 per tonne treated, which is incremental revenue for BioteQ. BioteQ provided the capital cost for the tailings treatment plant, which totaled $210,000, including commissioning. New Process Operation --------------------- The tailings recovery plant Caribou is a new operation for BioteQ and provides the company with additional operating expertise that could be utilized at other sites, in combination with the BioSulphide(R) Process for metal recovery, to offer complete tailings and water management services combined with metal recovery. Corporate Profile ----------------- BioteQ is establishing itself as a leader in the treatment of acid contaminated water through the use of its patented BioSulphide(R) Process. Focused on the mining industry, BioteQ has partnered with leading metal producers including Phelps Dodge, Breakwater and Falconbridge as well as utilities operator EPCOR Water Services, to finance, design, build and operate mine site water treatment plants which recover saleable metals in addition to meeting ever stricter environmental regulations. On behalf of the Board of Directors Brad Marchant