https://www.miningweekly.com

Struggling Queensland Nickel vows to pay workers

Struggling Queensland Nickel vows to pay workers

Photo by Bloombeg

7th January 2016

By: Esmarie Iannucci

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Australasia

  

Font size: - +

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The management of embattled miner Queensland Nickel on Thursday said it was doing all in its power to ensure the company remained afloat, despite rumours to the contrary.

Reports emerged on Thursday that insolvency experts had been called in at the refinery as nickel prices continued to remain low, and the miner struggled with finances.

In December of last year, Queensland Nickel requested an urgent meeting with the state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Treasurer Curtis Pitt to discuss the future of its Townsville refinery, with the miner calling for the state government to support the 2 500 workers employed by the refinery.

While Queensland Nickel did not seek any government funding, it was requesting that the government supply a guarantee on a short-term basis, which would act as security for a A$35-million overdraft.

“[We] have worked hard to do all we could under the circumstances, we want every worker at Queensland Nickel to know that arrangements have been made for wages to be paid next week,” Queensland Nickel MD Clive Mensink said on Thursday.

“All we can do together is produce as much nickel as we can as efficiently as we can, and support each other in doing so.”

Mensink lashed out at the state government for not coming to the rescue of Queensland Nickel, pointing out that both the Chinese and Canadian governments this week announced initiatives to assist their respective metals and resources industries.

“What has become absolutely clear is the Queensland Labor government does not support Labor people and does not support jobs in Townsville.

“I’m sure you know it’s hard to counter the Chinese and Canadian governments in the international marketplace, but I want you to know we are doing all we can in the current circumstances,” Mensink said.

Edited by Mariaan Webb
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

Showroom

Booyco Electronics
Booyco Electronics

Booyco Electronics, South African pioneer of Proximity Detection Systems, offers safety solutions for underground and surface mining, quarrying,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
M and J Mining
M and J Mining

M and J Mining are leading suppliers of physical support systems as used by the underground mining industry. Our selection of products are not...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
27th March 2024
Resources Watch
Resources Watch
27th March 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.095 0.126s - 90pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now