Planned shutdown cuts Murrin Murrin nickel/cobalt output
2011-01-17 08:42:57 【Print】
Base-metals-miner Minara Resources on Friday reported a 25% drop in nickel output at its 60%-held Murrin Murrin mine, in Western Australia.
The mine produced 6 508 t of nickel in the December quarter, compared with 8 675 t in the same quarter last year.
Cobalt production declined by 12,5% to 448 t, from 512 t in the corresponding period of 2009.
The December quarter’s production was also lower than the 7 358 t of nickel and 520 t of cobalt produced during the September quarter.
A three-week planned triennial statutory shutdown impacted on metal production in the quarter, MD and CEO Peter Johnston said in the quarterly report.
Major works were undertaken during the period, which included refurbishment of the catalyst in the acid plant, a rebuild of the sulphur pit, a statutory inspection of pressure vessels and tanks, and the replacement of a major heat exchanger in the acid plant.
“The thorough planning and successful execution of the major triennial shutdown in October was the highlight of the quarter,” Johnston said.
He added that the Murrin Murrin operation was well placed to increase metal production in 2011, following the completion of the shutdown and the capital expenditure in the year.
Production during 2011 was expected to reach between 33 000 t and 37 000 t of nickel, of which 60% would be attributable to Minara. This was up from the 2010 production guidance of between 28 000 t and 30 000 t.
Besides the triennial statutory shutdown, the increased production was also owing to the substantial completion of key debottlenecking projects during 2010, including the high-density slurry project and the sixth nickel reduction autoclave project, as well as the development of the Murrin Murin east ore body, which introduced a new source of high-grade ore scheduled to be processed during the first half of next year.
