Oct 3 Cuba’s two nickel processing plants were temporarily shut down on Monday, state-run media said, as powerful Hurricane Matthew threatened the eastern part of the Caribbean island, where the country’s top export earning industry is located.
State-run television on Monday, reporting on a meeting of Cubaniquel, the state-run nickel monopoly, said, “The principal objective is to avoid serious damage and later carry out a smooth reopening of the industry.”
The industry is located in Moa, Holguin province, where Cubaniquel owns one plant and is a joint venture partner with Canadian mining company Sherritt International in another.
Matthew is forecast to pass well east of Holguin but it is a huge storm and strong winds and heavy rainfall are expected. Flooding is forecast after the storm crosses the island and then bends westward.
Cubaniquel said in June it planned to produce 56,000 tonnes of unrefined nickel plus cobalt this year.
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