Posted on 02 Jan 2023
Australian miner Pacific Nickel Mines expects to ramp up its production at the Kolosori direct shipping ore (DSO) nickel mine in the Solomon Islands, Kallanish notes.
The firm has been working with mining contractor HBS PNG to finalise the definitive feasibility study (DFS).
Following HBS’ recent site visit, a number of improvements to the mine plan have been implemented which will simplify the mining and stockpile procedures, resulting in improved delivery of ore for shipping.
The relocation of the ore stockpiles from near the initial mining area to a flat area some 1 km east of the load out wharf will mean that initial mining is less constricted, and that the mining operation can ramp up to achieve targeted production rates in a shorter period of time.
Trenching undertaken at the newly proposed ore stockpile site has confirmed suitable ground conditions.
These improvements require some aspects of the mine plan to be re-designed.
As a result, the DFS which was expected to be complete by December has been delayed. It is now envisaged that the initial results of the DFS will be available for release to the market in January 2023.
Pacific Nickel continues to work closely with its financiers Glencore, who also recently carried out a site visit as due diligence for a $22 million project financing facility and DSO offtake sales.
A business licence for mining has also been granted by the provincial Isabel Island government.
“We are working closely with HBS and Glencore to deliver a robust nickel project at Kolosori. The recent positive adjustments to the mine plan are part of this engagement,” Pacific Nickel chief executive officer Geoff Hiller says.
“Improvements in the mine plan are expected to support the ramp up to full production (around 1.3 million wet metric tonnes per annum of direct shipping nickel ore) during the course of 2023,” he adds.
Source:Kallanish
