Nickel developer Horizonte Minerals has kicked off construction at its flagship Araguaia project in Para state, northern Brazil.
The company is now entering a 24-month construction period with its Stage 1 targeting production of 14,500 tonnes per year.
It has already awarded most of its crucial long-lead equipment contracts, including the project’s furnace in late February, earthworks earlier this month and the EPCM award was made in March. Earthworks went to Copa Construcao and Poyry was selected for engineering, procurement, and construction management.
“A significant amount of progress has been made in the four months since project approval, focused around early works and site preparation ahead of the main mobilization of the earthwork’s contractor, basic and detailed engineering and the tender and award of a number of key process equipment packages,” the company said.
Added CEO Jeremy Martin: “We are a step closer to achieving our vision of bringing this project into production and generating first revenues. This all comes at a time where the nickel market is facing constrained supply which will benefit Horizonte as we become a globally significant producer.”
Araguaia, which is fully funded, is wholly owned by Horizonte. The project has two principal mining centers: Araguaia Nickel South (ANS) and Araguaia Nickel North (ANN). ANS hosts seven deposits: Pequizeiro, Baião, Pequizeiro West, Jacutinga, Vila Oito East, Vila Oito West and Vila Oito, while ANN hosts the Vale do Sonhos deposit.
Source: Horizonte Minerals