Vale suspends Voisey's Bay mining operation due to COVID-19 outbreak
2020-03-19 08:46:37 [Print]
Vale said this week that it has taken the decision to ramp down its Voisey's Bay nickel mining operation in Canada, and place it on care and maintenance for a period of four weeks.
The company said this is a precaution to help protect the health and well-being of Nunatsiavut and Innu indigenous communities in Labrador, as well as its own staff.
Operations at Vale's open-pit mine and concentrator at Voisey's Bay in Labrador began in 2005. This 6,000t/d facility produces two types of concentrate: nickel-cobalt-copper concentrate and copper concentrate. Nickel concentrate produced at Voisey's Bay is currently processed at the hydrometallurgical processing facility in Long Harbour, Newfoundland.
While the mining operation will shut down, the Long Harbour Processing Plant (LHPP) will continue to operate, Vale said. Nickel and cobalt production should not be affected given the availability of stockpiled concentrates to feed the LHPP well past the four-week care and maintenance period, but copper concentrate production at site will be reduced proportionally in line with the period of the mine stoppage, it said. The decision also impacts on the Voisey's Bay Mine Expansion project, which is currently underway to transition to underground operations.
The company said this is a precaution to help protect the health and well-being of Nunatsiavut and Innu indigenous communities in Labrador, as well as its own staff.
Operations at Vale's open-pit mine and concentrator at Voisey's Bay in Labrador began in 2005. This 6,000t/d facility produces two types of concentrate: nickel-cobalt-copper concentrate and copper concentrate. Nickel concentrate produced at Voisey's Bay is currently processed at the hydrometallurgical processing facility in Long Harbour, Newfoundland.
While the mining operation will shut down, the Long Harbour Processing Plant (LHPP) will continue to operate, Vale said. Nickel and cobalt production should not be affected given the availability of stockpiled concentrates to feed the LHPP well past the four-week care and maintenance period, but copper concentrate production at site will be reduced proportionally in line with the period of the mine stoppage, it said. The decision also impacts on the Voisey's Bay Mine Expansion project, which is currently underway to transition to underground operations.
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Unit:RMB/mt
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Unit: mt
