Decision on Pomalaa Nickel Project in Indonesia by End March
Japanese miner and smelter Sumitomo Metal Mining is on track to finish a definitive feasibility study and make a final investment decision on the Pomalaa nickel project in Indonesia by the end of March. Mr Nobuhiro Matsumoto, Sumitomo Metal Mining’s executive officer, told “If the decision is made by Sumitomo Metal Mining and its local partner PT Vale Indonesia to go ahead, the plant with a capacity of about 40,000 tonnes of mixed sulphide nickel is expected to start production in mid-2020s.”
Mr Hiroshi Asahi, SMM’s managing executive officer, said that the Sierra Gorda copper mine in Chile, owned by Polish miner KGHM, SMM and Sumitomo Corp, is planned to produce 108,000 tonnes of copper this year, above its May forecast of 104,000 tonnes and the 97,000 tonnes produced in 2018.
Mr Asahi added that Chile’s Quebrada Blanca 2 copper project, in which SMM bought 25% stake this year, is progressing as planned, while the Cote gold project in Canada, in which SMM holds a 27.75% stake, may be delayed from the current plan to start production in 2021.
Source : Reuters