Norilsk Nickel Australia
Black Swan Norilsk Nickel acquired the entire Black Swan operation as a result of the LionOre Mining International Limited acquisition on 28 June 2007. The mining operation is located 53 km north east from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and includes the Silver Swan underground nickel mine which mined a small ore body with high nickel grade and the Black Swan open pit mine which mined disseminated sulfide ores with a lower nickel grade. The operation also includes a concentrator and auxiliary infrastructure such as a warehouse, a waste dump and a retention pond. The Silver Swan and Black Swan deposits were discovered in the late 1960s. Underground mine Silver Swan started operations in 1996 and production in the Black Swan open pit started in June 2004. In 2008 the Black Swan produced ca. 16,000 tonnes of nickel concentrate. Currently the production is suspended for the indefinite period of time due to the deteriorated economic environment and drastic fall of nickel prices.
Cawse Cawse became part of Norilsk Nickel as a result of the OM Group’s nickel business acquisition on 1 March 2007. Norilsk Nickel Cawse is located 50 km from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and is one of the three “first generation” laterit nickel projects in Australia. The Cawse project, which includes an open pit mine and ore leaching facility, comissioned in 1998. The company uses traditional production and concentration technologies combined with a high pressure acid leaching technology (HPAL technology), and as a result, the recovery from ore to nickel carbonate is approximately 91%. The produced nickel carbonate was transported for further processing to Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta refinery in Finland. In 2008, the Cawse produced ca. 1,400 tonnes of nickel concentrate. Currently the production is suspended for the indefinite period of time due to the deteriorated economic environment and drastic fall of nickel prices.
Lake Johnston Lake Johnston became part of Norilsk Nickel as a result of the LionOre Mining International Limited acquisition on 28 June 2007. Lake Johnston is located 540 km from Perth in Western Australia. The sulfide ore deposit was developed by the Maggie Hays underground mine. Commercial production of nickel at the Maggie Hays mine started in Q3 of 2006. In 2008, the Lake Johnston produced ca. 8,900 tonnes of nickel in concentrate. Currently the production is suspended for the indefinite period of time due to the deteriorated economic environment and drastic fall of nickel prices.
Waterloo Waterloo became part of Norilsk Nickel as a result of the LionOre Mining International Limited acquisition on 28 June 2007. The Waterloo nickel mine is located 35 km south of Leinster in Western Australia. Waterloo partially uses auxiliary infrastructure of the Thunderbox gold mine put on care and maintance. Commercial production at the Waterloo deposit started in October 2006. Ore mined at Waterloo was processed under a tolling agreement at the BHP Billiton Leinster plant in Australia, and the concentrate produced was sold to BHP Billiton for further processing. In 2008, the Waterloo produced ca. 5,800 tonnes of nickel in concentrate. Currently the production is suspended for the indefinite period of time due to the deteriorated economic environment and drastic fall of nickel prices. |
