Name of the Project
Shakespeare nickel project.

Location
Ontario, in Canada.

Project Owner/s
Magna Mining.

Project Description
A feasibility study has demonstrated the potential of the Shakespeare project to be the next nickel producing mine in Canada, and has confirmed Magna Mining’s belief that the project is an attractive standalone operation at current nickel and copper prices.

The study has further shown the positive economics of the project, including a modest upfront capital cost and strong leverage to the price of nickel and copper.

The mining rate will average 11.5-million tonnes a year in the first four years, peaking at 11.9-million tonnes a year in Year 3 before tapering off until the end of the mine life.

It will recover 65.7-million pounds of nickel, 86.7-million pounds of copper, three-million pounds of cobalt and 177 000 oz of platinum-group metals over a 7.1-year mine life.

The mine has been designed to provide 4 500 t/d of mill feed to the process plant to be built adjacent to the pit.

Material from the pit will be used to build the co-disposal area for the storage of waste and tailings in the adjacent valley. This facility will be lined, allowing for the long-term storage of potentially acid-generating tailings material from the process plant and any such material from the mine beneath the water level, as well as control of the drainage from the waste stored within its footprint.

The process plant will generate potentially acid-generating tailings and nonacid-generating tailings that will be separated at the plant. The latter will be stored with the nonacid-generating tailings waste rock from the mine.

The co-disposal area includes settling and polishing ponds, and a water treatment facility for any variances in water quality encountered before discharge into the environment. The water management system has been designed to reuse site water for process applications, minimise freshwater requirements and effectively collect contact runoff in accordance with legislative requirements. The study proposes the use of an owner-operated fleet, including 12-91 t trucks, hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders and drills.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The base case results demonstrate a pretax net present value, at 6% discount rate, of $221-million, an internal rate of return of 27.2% and a 3.4-year payback.

Capital Expenditure
Initial capital requirements of $232.9-million, including all mine preproduction costs, co-disposal area preparation and sustaining capital of $9.2-million (including closure).

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Magna Mining CEO and director Jason Jessup, tel +1 705 665 0262 or email jason.jessup@magnamining.com.