Nickel Mine Closures 2008 Due to Demand Destruction and Low LME Price
|
Mine |
Country |
Remarks/Date |
| Various smelters | China | 5/08 Much discussion about feasibility of “pig nickel” to be produced as nickel falls to $10/lb, and pollution concerns for upcoming Olympics |
| Radio Hill Project | Australia | 7/10 Fox Resources postpones production / (update 12/5) to re-open in late 2009 |
| Murrin Murrin Mine | Australia | 8/8 Minara to delay a A$300 million expansion |
| Falcondo | Dominican Republic | 8/19 Xstrata suspends operations due to high cost of oil (update 12/4 – closed indefinitely) |
| Jinchuan | China | Jinchuan Group, China’s largest nickel producer, said it has decided to reduce its full-year nickel output target to 100,000 tons, down 16.7% |
| Blair Mine | Australia | 930 Australian Mines suspended operations |
| Shakespeare Mine | Canada | 10/9 Ursa Major suspending operations |
| Hitura Mine | Finland | 10/15 Belvedere suspending operations |
| Cawse Mine | Australia | 10/17 Norilsk suspended operations |
| Lockerby Mine | Canada | 10/19 First Nickel suspended operations |
| Lac des Isles Mine | Canada | 10/21 North American Palladium suspends operations |
| Levack Mine | Canada | 10/21 FNX Mining suspends operations |
| Berong Mine | Philippines | 11/9 Toledo suspends mining operations |
| Onca Puma Project | Brazil | 11/14 Vale delays start up to July 2009 |
| Copernicus Mine | Australia | 11/18 Panoramic suspended operations |
| Beta Hunt Mine | Australia | Consolidated Minerals to suspend operations by mid December 08 |
| Sorowako Operation | Indonesia | 10/27 PT Inco – Shutting down all the thermal power generators, until their usage becomes profitable again. This decision will result in decreased annual production perhaps by as much as 20 % |
| Ufaleynikel | Russia | 10/27 Russia’s 3rd largest producer suspends operations |
| Moa Bay / Fort Saskatchewan | Cuba / Canada | 10/29 – Sherritt will suspend expansion of its Fort Saskatchewan nickel refinery and the Moa nickel operations in Cuba / Ambatovy under review |
| McWatters Mine | Canada | 10/31 Liberty suspending operations |
| Redstone Mine | Canada | 10/31 Liberty suspending operations |
| Mincor operations (not closed) | Australia | reducing production |
| Fenix Project | Guatemala | 11/4 Hudbay announces delay in construction start-up |
| Ban Phuc Nickel project | Vietnam | 11/4 Asian Mineral Resources suspends construction |
| Taganito | Philippines | 11/5 Sumitomo Metal Mining Co says it may delay the start of its Taganito nickel project in the Philippines to explore the possibility of cutting project costs. |
| Craig Nickel Mine | Canada | 11/13 Xstrata ceasing operations by June 09, ahead of planned closure |
| Thayer-Lindsey Mine | Canada | 11/13 Xstrata ceasing operations by Jan 09, ahead of planned closure |
| Gag Island Project | Indonesia | 11/14 BHP cancels development of $4.5 billion dollar mine with PT Antam |
| Waterloo | Australia | 11/24 Norilsk suspended operations |
| Silver Swan | Australia | 11/24 Norilsk suspended operations |
| PT Inco Indonesia | Indonesia | 11/26 – will reduce production in 2009 by 20% if price of nickel stays low |
| PT Aneka Tambang | Indonesia | 11.26 – reducing production to 11,500-12,000 tonnes, against an initial target of 17,000 |
| Activox Demonstration Plant/Refinery | Botswana | 11/27 – Norilsk will shut down permanently by 12/31 |
| Trojan Mine | Zimbabwe | 11/27 Bindura suspending operations |
| Shangani Mine | Zimbabwe | 11/27 Bindura suspending operations |
| Ambatovy Project | Madagascar | 11/29 Globe & Mail report says Sherritt’s project is on “care and maintenance” for at least 6-8 months |
| Altai Project | Russia | 12/2 Russian Nickel Company puts project on hold |
| Copper Cliff Mine | Canada | 12/4 Vale suspends operations beginning in January |
| Copper Cliff Deep Project | Canada | 12/4 Vale delays development for 12 months |
| Voisey’s Bay | Canada | 12/4 Vale will shut down for month of July 09 // Utility nickel refinery in Dalian, China at 35% |
| Talvivaara nickel mine | Finland | 12/5 Talvivaara Mining cuts 2009 production target estimates down 2-5,000 tonnes due to price |
| Eramet Operations | New Caledonia | 12/9 In view of the current sales outlook, nickel output will be adjusted from the start of 2009 to an annualized level of about 50,000 tonnes, for a period which will be dictated by changes in demand. |
| Miitel Mine | Australia | 12/10 Mincor Resources to suspend production end of this month |
| McCreedy West Mine | Canada | 12/10 FNX suspend production |
| Munali | Zambia | 12/11 Albidon cuts 110 of its 260 workforce |
| Avebury nickel mine | Australia | 12/18 OZ Minerals Ltd closes new mine due to low price of nickel |
| Barro Alto | Brazil | 12/18 Anglo American delays construction by 12 months. Commisioning now scheduled for 2011 |
| Tati Nickel Mine & Concentrator | Botswana | 12/24 Norilsk halts production for 12 days after fire in smelter |
| Doniambo nickel smelter | New Caledonia | 1/12 Eramet announces production cut to 50,000 tonnes annual on poor demand, 20,000 tonnes less than 2007 and about the same as 2008 production |
| Loma de Niquel mine | Venezuela | 1/20 Anglo American halts production ‘temporarily’ due to low prices and transportation costs |
| Ravensthorpe mine | Australia | 1/21 BHP announced closing indefinetly |
| Yabulu nickel refinery | Australi | 1/21 BHP announces it will stop processing nickel cobalt hydroxide and process ore only. |
| Mount Keith mine | Australia | 1/21 BHP announces reducing rate of production and laying off 300 workers |
| Various | Indonesia | 1/23 PT Aneka Tambang announces it cut its output of ferronickel by 30% to 12,000 metric tons, |
| Dinapigue, Isabela mine | Philippines | 1/23 Platinum Group Metals Corp shuts down operations and lays off 405 workers |
| Ufaleynikel | Russia | 1/27 Russia’s third largest nickel producer announces it will resume production in early February |
| Craig and Thayer-Lindsley mines | Canada | 2/9 Xstrata puts both mines on care and maintenance and lays off 686 people |
| Berong Nickel Mine | Philippines | 2/9 Toledo Mining announces all production halted at this time. |
| Black Swan, Lake Johnston mines | Australia | 2/16 Norilsk Nickel closes remaining two nickel operations in Australia, 330 jobs cut |
| Various | Indonesia | 3/2 PT Aneka Tambang says it will cut ferronickel output in 2009 by 32% on the year to 12,000 metric tons due to lower nickel demand |
| Munali | Zambia | 3/3 Albidon suspends operations, 350 jobs eliminated |
| Feni nickel plant in Kavadarci | Macedonia | 3/17 Cunico Resources tells Dow Jones that they plan to produce 8,000 tonnes in 2009, 80% lower than 2008 |
| Larco Mines | Greece | 4/8 Larco announces it will cut ferronickel output by about 55 percent in 2009 from 90,000 tonnes last year |
| Sudbury | Canada | 4/17 Vale announces it will suspend operations at its Sudbury operations for two months beginning June 1st |
| Onca Puma | Brazil | 4/17 Vale announces it will continue the suspension of production at its new mine |
| Rocky Reward’s / @ Leinster | Australia | 5/12 BHP announces operations have ceased at the Rocky’s Reward open pit mine at its Leinster nickel operation |
| Montcalm in Timmins | Canada | 6/8 Xstrata announces suspension since March due to explosion is now an indefinite closure |
| Sta. Cruz, Zambales | Philippines | 7/1 DMCI Mining Corp. suspends all mining operations |