FIRST Quantum Minerals expects to ship its first nickel concentrate from its mine in Ravensthorpe, WA, by April this year.
The first shipment of sulphur, a vital component of nickel production, arrived through the Esperance port last week.
The Canadian company has made significant upgrades to the processing plant since acquiring it in February 2010 for the cut-throat price of $340m.
The plant cost BHP Billiton $3b to build and commission.
When it was closed in 2017, it was the nickel project’s second major closure and loss of jobs.
The mine is wholly owned by First Quantum and currently employs around 250 people with another 100 jobs projected to be filled.
Locals and residents from the vicinity have filled many of the jobs.
The open pit operation will be run by mining services company MACA who will employ a further 200 people.
Operations at Ravensthorpe involve open pit mining and beneficiation of nickel laterite ore to produce a mixed hydroxide precipitate product, containing about 40pc nickel and 1.4pc cobalt.
Sulphuric acid for the leaching process is produced on site with waste heat being recovered to produce steam via three 18MW steam turbines, for the generation of power and to provide heat for the leaching process.
First Quantum confirmed it has spent $14m on the facility so far this year and has recently completed drilling of its Shoemaker Levy orebody deposit.
