PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Junior Pacific Nickel Mines has started construction at its Kolosori nickel project, in the Solomon Islands, with the mining contractor starting earthworks.
The company is developing the project using $22-million in funding provided by mining major Glencore.
“Pacific Nickel Mines is pleased to confirm that construction at the Kolosori nickel project has commenced in earnest. First mining of ore is planned for October 2023, as previously outlined,” said Pacific Nickel CEO Geoff Hiller.
“The board is delighted that the operation is finally coming to fruition. This will see the Solomon Islands becoming an important exporter of high-grade nickel ore to Asian markets.”
Pacific Nickel is hoping to start direct shipping ore production at Kolosori late in the third quarter of this year.
A definitive feasibility study estimated that the project could produce 1.4-million tonnes a year of ore over a mine life of three years, and at a C1 cost of $31.08/t.