Name and Location
Ambatovy nickel project, Madagascar.

Client
The Ambatovy Joint Venture (JV) is a vertically integrated nickel and cobalt mining, processing, refining and marketing JV between subsidiaries of Sherritt (40%), Sumitomo (27.5%), Korea Resources (27.5%), and SNC-Lavalin (5%).
Sherritt is the operator of the facilities.

Project Description
The Ambatovy nickel project will consist of an openpit mining operation and an ore preparation plant at the mine site located near Moramanga. The slurried laterite ore will then be delivered through a 220-km-long pipeline to a process plant and refinery, located a few kilometres from the Port of Toamasina.

The project will be among the largest nickel projects under development in the world, with a design capacity of 60 000 t/y of nickel, 5 600 t/y of cobalt and 190 000 t/y of ammonium sulphate. The project will have a minimum mine life of 29 years.

Value
$6.9-billion.

Duration
Commissioning and start-up of the plant facilities were completed in 2012 and ramp-up of the facilities continues to advance.

Latest Developments
Commercial production has been achieved at the Ambatovy nickel operations.

Commercial production is defined as attaining an average of 70% of ore throughput of the nameplate capacity in the pressure acid leach circuit over a thirty-day period and is the point at which all revenue and operating costs cease to be capitalised.

The focus at Ambatovy remains on optimising operating performance to achieve nameplate capacity.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
VWS Envig (ammonium sulphate processing plant).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Ambatovy nickel project, tel +261 20 22 397 35, fax +261 20 22 540 30  or email media@ambatovy.mg.