CAPITAL COSTS: SIGNIFICANT NICKEL PROJECTS

摘要

As of August 2006, Xstrata expected Koniambo's capital costs to be 2.2 billion dollars, including a 390-MW power facility, a metallurgical plant, mine development, port and road facilities, and owners' costs. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2007, with startup in 2009. Koniambo will produce 60,000 mt/y of nickel in ferronickel, based on proven and probable saprolite reserves of 62.5 million mt grading 2.4 percent Ni. In addition, Koniambo has inferred saprolite resources of 156 million mt grading 2.2 percent Ni. Koniambo's production capacity could be increased through future extraction of an additional inferred limonitic resource of 100 million mt grading 1.6 percent Ni. As of July 2006, Inco was revising the 1,878 billion dollars capital cost estimate for Goro in light of higher fuel and raw materials costs, protests and vandalism at the project, and delays in obtaining permits. Delays have pushed startup back to 2008 from 2007. Goro's production capacity will be 60,000 mt/y of nickel and 4,650 mt/y of cobalt, based on proven reserves of 120 million mt grading 1.48 percent Ni and 0.11 percent Co. Goro has additional measured and indicated resources totaling 75 million grading 1.49 percent Ni and 0.12 percent Co, plus inferred resources of 128 million mt grading 1.7 percent Ni and 0.1 percent Co.