PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Western Areas has announced first ore production at its Odysseus project, in Western Australia.
MD Dan Lougher said on Tuesday that first development ore at the Odysseus south orebody marked a significant milestone for the company’s new long life nickel mine.
“It is an exciting milestone to reach first ore and we now look forward to continuing ore production and construction activities, while also advancing offtake tenders for new nickel sulphide supply into the class 1 nickel market.”
The ore will be stockpiled during construction of the concentrator complex, which is due to produce first concentrate in the December quarter of 2022. Western Areas is also assessing options for potential ore tolling arrangements in the short term.
The raise bore back reaming has now worked through 630 m of development at a diameter of 5.7 m, completing Leg 1 of the shaft hoisting and intake air system.
“The raise bore breakthrough is also a key achievement that further de-risks project delivery and allows completion of the shaft sub-brace concrete works, as well as remaining surface civil works, associated with the shaft. Importantly, the work was completed without a safety incident, for which credit must be given to the site management team and RUC, the raise bore contractor,” said Lougher.