Photo by: Bloombeg
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.