:: Johnson Matthey to close UK gold refinery

Johnson Matthey plans to close its gold and silver refinery in Royston, UK by the second quarter of 2005. A company spokesman said that the move was a response to 'massive overcapacity' in the gold refining sector. The capacity of the Royston refinery is thought to be about 200 t/y. Johnson Matthey's other refineries are in Canada, the USA and Hong Kong.