NEWFOUNDLAND — Vale Inco of Toronto has reached an agreement with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to reduce output from the Voisey's Bay mine to an average annual level of 55,000 tonnes of nickel in concentrate over the next four years. The amendment to the terms of development for the Voisey's Bay project were made after it was revealed that the hydrometallurgical plant at Long Harbour will not be completed until 2013, more than a year later than originally projected.
The delay in plant completion is due to a revised project that is larger and more complex than originally designed in 2002. Construction is to begin this spring. Meantime, concentrates will continue to be shipped to Sudbury, Ont., for processing. By lowering the Voisey's Bay production rate, the same number of tonnes will be processed outside Newfoundland as was originally agreed over the original, shorter time span.
More news about the hydromet plant will be posted at www.ValeInco.com.
Comments