Name and Location
NiWest nickel laterite project, Australia.

Client
GME Resources.

Project Description
The NiWest project has a total resource of 75.73-million tonnes, grading 1.01% nickel at a cutoff grade of 0.8% and 0.06% cobalt.

An engineering scoping study on the NiWest project, located at Murrin Murrin, in Western Australia, has concluded that a heap-leaching operation, combined with a processing plant using direct solvent extraction electrowinning, is technologically and potentially economically sound.

The study has considered a range of production rates and determined the optimum start-up operation should be 1.5-million tonnes a year based on using locally sourced reagents. The study includes the integration of the company’s proprietary acid regeneration technology in the new flowsheet, which is expected to reduce overall acid consumption by up to 30%.

Production is estimated at 14 000 t/y nickel cathode and 540 t/y cobalt, with defined resources supporting a minimum 20-year operation with potential to extend further or scale up production.

Value
The project is estimated at A$460-million.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The scoping study has recommended progressing to a structured metallurgical test programme, which includes continuous piloting of the solution processing to produce data input for engineering design.
The successful outcomes to several key project drivers will then allow for the project to continue seamlessly into the feasibility study. Costs to undertake the metallurgical programme and complete a feasibility study are expected to cost about $15-million and will take about two years.

The company will examine all options available to progress the study’s recommendations.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
GME Resources, tel +61 8 9273 1204, fax +61 8 3915 5475 or email enquiries@gmeresources.com.au.