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WHITE PINE -- The White Pine Copper Refinery will close by then end of the month.

That's the word from John Vincic, a spokesman for Hudbay Minerals Incorporated which owns the Western U.P. plant.

Vincic said the company began the process of closing the Flin Flon smelter this week.

He said the refinery shutdown will follow soon after, but he didn't have an exact date.