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low-grade alternative in trial production runs of its 300-series
stainless steel although at present pig-iron has been used
predominantly in the consumer goods sector (200-series
stainless) rather than higher quality industrial sector. Some
Chinese companies have even bought purpose-built blast
furnaces for nickeliferous pig-iron production, suggesting it is
more than a short-term stop-gap (Foster and Ho, 2007).
Nevertheless, in the long-term, the Chinese authorities may
impose new regulations on the use of nickeliferous pig-iron, as
its production is not only energy intensive but produces high
levels of pollution. Some pig-iron producers also add fluorspar
to their blast furnaces to increase the fluidity of the slag, which
has serious consequences for the local environment (Metal
Bulletin,2007a). In the meantime, increased demand for
laterite ore has resulted in inflated prices.
Kosovo also rejoined the global nickel market with the
privatization of the Ferronikeli mining complex in Drenas.
Production resumed after eight years under new owner,
International Mineral Resources (IMR). IMR have invested
over US$60 million since April 2006 to repair war damage.
Ferronikeli has three open-pit lateric nickel mines and intend
to produce ferronickel for export. The plant was set up in 1984
using Soviet technology, but now includes Western units
(Mining Journal, 2007f).
Perth-based Rusina Mining added to its landholding in the
Philippines near its Acoje nickel mine (Rusina Mining, 2007).
Confidence in nickel remains, illustrated by the approval of a
massive US$3.8 billion investment by Xstrata plc in its
Koniambo lateritic nickel project in New Caledonia. This is
billed by the company as the most attractive undeveloped
nickel resource in the world (Mercer, 2007).
Despite the price slump during December, Stonehenge Metals
(Perth, Australia) went ahead with a deal to acquire an 85 per
cent stake in the Mandiodo laterite nickel project in Sulawesi,
Indonesia, from PT Global Titik Persada (Stonehenge Metals,
2008). Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest mining
companies signalled its faith in continuing strong demand for
nickel by its commitment to go ahead with the $US300 million
Eagle Mine in Michigan and was negotiating for another
nickel mine in Sulawesi, Indonesia (Rio Tinto, 2007).
New bioleaching technology has attracted increasing interest
for nickel extraction and also its potential for use on low-grade
ores and reworking waste dumps. The heap leaching of
laterites especially has gathered momentum in recent times
since AIM-listed European Nickel brought its Caldag laterite
leach operation online in Turkey (Garvey, 2007d). GME
Resources Ltd identified the bio-heap leaching as its preferred
processing method for its NiWest lateritic nickel-cobalt
project in Western Australia (Mining Journal, 2007b) The flat
terrain and arid conditions of the Western Australian
goldfields are especially favourable to heap leaching.
Finland’s Talvivaara Mining Co Ltd is set to become the first
company to apply bio-heap leaching to the commercial scale
extraction of nickel from sulphide ore at the company’s two
polymetallic deposits (Kuusilampi and Kolmisoppi) in
Sotkampo. Overburden removal began in November 2007 and
is on schedule to begin mining late next year (Talvivaara
Mining Co. Ltd, 2008).
Selected bibliography
CHADWICK, J. AND HIGGINS, S. 2007. Enter the Dragon.
International Mining February 2007, 58-61.
66
FOSTER, K. AND HO, C. 2007. Analysts divided over outlook
for nickel Market. Metal Bulletin 2 April 2007, p13.
FOX RESOURCES LTD. 2008. [cited January 2008] Available
from http://www.foxresources.com.au/operations.asp
GARVEY, P. 2007a. Nickel holding fast as others fall.
MiningNews.net. Friday 5 January 2007
GARVEY, P. 2007b. Nickel assuming precious metal status.
MiningNews.net. Friday 19 January 2007
GARVEY, P. 2007c. Ferronickel threat to nickel highs.
MiningNews.net. Tuesday 13 February 2007
GARVEY, P. 2007d. Laterite play boosted by leach results.
MiningNews.net Friday 2. March 2007
HAYCOCK, K. 2007a. Nickel price plummets on China
output cut fears. MiningNews.net. Wednesday 20 June 2007
HAYCOCK, K. 2007b. Nickel upside still strong.
MiningNews.net. Tuesday 12 June 2007
HAYCOCK, K. 2007c. How low will nickel go?
MiningNews.net. Tuesday 31 July 2007
INTERNATIONAL NICKEL STUDY GROUP. 2008. [cited January
2008] Available from http://www.insg.org/prodnickel.aspx
METAL BULLETIN. 2008. MB Prices Non Ferrous [online].
Metal Bulletin. [cited January 2008] Available from
http;//www1.metalbulletin.com
METAL BULLETIN. 2007a. Jinchuan will reduce nickel
exports this year. Metal Bulletin 2 April 2007. p13.
METAL BULLETIN. 2007b. High nickel prices sees China
turn to low cost alternative. Metal Bulletin 23 April 2007.
p6–8
MERCER, D. 2007. Xstrata’s approves $3.8bn Koniambo
Mining Journal. 19 Oct 2007
MINING JOURNAL 2007a. Nickel high as Esperance stops
shipments Mining Journal. 11 May 2007
MINING JOURNAL 2007b. GME opts for heap-leach at
NiWest. Mining Journal. 18 May 2007
MINING JOURNAL 2007C. Mixed Sentiment on Nickel.
Mining Journal. 25 May 2007, p4
MINING JOURNAL 2007d. Focus Nickel consolidating
interest. Mining Journal. 08 June 2007, p19-22
MINING JOURNAL 2007e. LME lending rule sparks fall.
Mining Journal. 08 June 2007
MINING JOURNAL 2007f. Ferronikeli Reopens. Mining
Journal. 14 September 2007, p4
MININGNEWS.NET 2007. New nickel mine for Queensland
Mining Journal. Wednesday 5 September 2007
NICKEL INSTITUTE 2008. [cited January 2008] Available
from
http://www.nickelinstitute.org/index.cfm?ci_id=14&la_id=1
NORILSK NICKEL 2008. MMC Norilsk Nickel announces
preliminary consolidated production results for 2007 and
production forecast for 2008. Press Release. [cited January
2008] Available from
http://www.nornik.ru/en/press/news/2247/
PT ANTAM TBK. 2007. Antam’s first half 2007 net profit
surges 458 per cent to rp2,873 billion. Press Release 28
August 2007 [cited January 2008] Available from
http://www.antam.com/News/Releases/Archives/Archives.htm