After an 18 month construction and commissioning period, UK-based Brazilian Nickel has begun continuous nickel production from its Piauí Nickel Project in northeast Brazil.
The junior miner said the first nickel hydroxide product was produced at the project’s PNP1000 – the world’s first stand-alone nickel laterite heap leaching operation. Annual production for this year is anticipated to be 300 tonnes of nickel, which will ramp up to 1,400 tonnes per annum in 2023.
“This is a huge step for Brazilian Nickel as we become a nickel laterite heap leach producer,” said Anne Oxley, technical director.
“Producing nickel in [nickel hydroxide product] from our low carbon process will help the planet’s race to combat climate change. The product will feed the ever growing demand from electric vehicles.”
Brazilian Nickel said further work will be completed on the cobalt circuit at the operation over the next four to six months with an anticipated annual production of 35 tonnes of cobalt in 2023.
Source: Brazilian Nickel