MANITOBA - The Manitoba government has granted the environmental licence for the construction, operation and closure of the Minago nickel mine 225 km south of Thompson. The owner, Victory Nickel of Toronto, plans to begin development this winter with pre-stripping of the pit.
"We have completed the feasibility study, improved the economic results of that feasibility study, increased the resource in the Nose deposit, expanded the amount of nickel within the proposed pit and identified the potential for an additional resource in the North Limb, but being granted the licence is by far the most significant milestone achieved in the development of a nickel mine at Minago," said Rene Galipeau, vice-chair and CEO.
The Minago mine will produce 3.6 million tonnes of ore grading up to 35.0% Ni per year. Production of nickel in concentrate will be 11,000 t/y plus 11.2 million t/y of frac sand. Cash costs per pound of nickel, net of credits, will be $2.12.
Open pit mining will begin at the Nose deposit. Victory is considering underground mining of Nose at a later date as well as a second pit at the North Limb.
More information about Victory Nickel is posted at www.VictoryNickel.ca.