Nickel – Page 85 – Republic of Mining

Glencore guiding higher ferrochrome, nickel output – by Martin Creamer (MiningWeekly.com – August 11, 2016)

August 11, 2016

http://www.miningweekly.com/page/americas-home

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Diversified mining and marketing company Glencore on Thursday guided higher 2016 ferrochrome and nickel production – the only two of its wide range of commodities that it expects to produce at levels higher than in 2015.

Reporting lower half-year production of copper, zinc, lead, coal and oil than in the first six months of 2015, the London-, Hong Kong- and Johannesburg-listed company headed by CEO Ivan Glasenberg put this year’s expected full-year ferrochrome production at 1 575 000 t – up on the 1 462 000 t of 2015.

In the six months to June 30, Glencore’s attributable share of ferrochrome production of 762 000 t was in line with last year’s first-half output. The company is also guiding 2016 nickel output of 116 000 t, up on the 96 000 t of last year.

Glencore reveals tax payout – by Staff (Sudbury Star – July 16, 2016)

July 18, 2016

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Glencore paid the government of Canada $5.65 million US in taxes last year for its Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations. The figure is contained in a report released by the miner called Glencore: Payments to Government 2015.

Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies, and a major producer and trader of more than 90 commodities, it says on its website. In Sudbury, Glencore operates two underground nickel-copper mines: Nickel Rim South, which the company says is Sudbury’s largest mining operation, and Fraser Mine.

Its Strathcona concentrator receives ore from those two mines and from third-party custom feed ores, and produces two concentrate streams, a nickel-copper concentrate that goes to the Sudbury smelter and a copper concentrate that goes to Glencore Copper for smelting and refining.

Metals rebound restores some luster to lowly zinc and nickel – by Peter Koven(Financial Post – July 15, 2016)

July 15, 2016

http://business.financialpost.com/

After many months in the gutter, two of the world’s least-loved metals are enjoying an honest-to-goodness turnaround.

Zinc and nickel are both soaring this summer after recovering from shocking depths early in the year. Zinc touched US$1.00 a pound on Thursday for the first time since mid-2015, while nickel jumped to a nine-month high of US$4.73 a pound. Zinc is up 48 per cent from its January low, and nickel is up 38 per cent in the same period.

These moves were a long time coming. For the past two years, experts have been warning of major supply-side problems in these markets and predicting that rallies were inevitable. It took a while for them to materialize, in part because of high inventories. And now that they are finally here, there is debate about whether they are sustainable.

A Loss For China And A Win For Russia In The Philippines – by Tim Treadgold (Forbes Magazine – July 14, 2016)

July 14, 2016

http://www.forbes.com/

Russia is a likely winner from changing government policy in the Philippines just as the South East Asian country emerges as a thorn in the side of China.

The problem between China and the Philippines is well understood and relates to disputed territorial claims by China to a vast area of the South China Sea that is close to other countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Earlier this week an international disputes court in the Netherlands found against China and in favor of a case taken by the Philippines against the Chinese claims which are based on ancient history and modern “island building”.

Scant short term impact seen on nickel from Philippine mine crackdown – by Manolo Serapio Jr and Eric Onstad (Reuters U.S. – July 13, 2016)

July 13, 2016

http://www.reuters.com/

MANILA/LONDON, July 13 An environmental crackdown on Philippine mines, which helped drive nickel prices to eight-month highs, is likely to have only a muted impact on exports to China in the short term because the biggest mines have met guidelines, experts said.

The Philippines is the biggest exporter to top metals consumer China of nickel ore, used to make stainless steel. A smattering of smaller mines are likely to be affected in coming months and new mines will probably face tough going in the future, but the review of the mining sector is not likely to result in a quick drop in shipments.

“The Chinese think the Philippines will continue exporting ore to China and only some small mines will be affected. They’re not worried about the situation at the moment,” said Peter Peng, analyst at CRU consultancy in Beijing.

Nickel at 9-month high on Philippine environmental fears – by Neil Hume (Financial Times – July 12, 2016)

July 12, 2016

https://next.ft.com/

Nickel has powered to its highest level since October 2015 as investors become increasingly concerned about an environmental crackdown in the Philippines. The Philippines has emerged as the top supplier of nickel ore to China since Indonesia banned exports of unprocessed raw materials in 2014, writes Neil Hume.

It was the largest producer of mined nickel globally last year, accounting for 465,000 tonnes, or 22 per cent of global output, and 97 per cent of total ore imported in China, according to Standard Chartered. Filipino is used by Chinese mills to produce nickel pig iron, a cheap alternative to refined nickel.

Those supplies could now be in danger after the new president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte ordered a review of the country’s mining industry.

Can You Spare a Nickel, Mr. Duterte? – by David Fickling (Bloomberg News – July 5, 2016)

July 5, 2016

http://www.bloomberg.com/

Nickel has been the worst performer of the London Metal Exchange’s six major metals over the past year. The key ingredient in stainless steel, which topped $50,000 a metric ton in 2007, has barely risen above $10,000 in eight months.

Between 60 percent and 70 percent of producers are losing money at current prices, Ivan Glasenberg, chief executive of the fourth-biggest producer, Glencore, told an investor call in December.

In trying to deal a blow to a mining industry he accuses of “spoiling the land,” Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, also known as the “Punisher,” may have just done global producers a favor.

Nickel traded on the LME rose at the fastest pace in more than eight months Monday.

[Archives: Sherritt International History] Marching to a different drum – by Jane Werniuk (Canadian Mining Journal – February 1, 2008)

June 21, 2016

http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/

Sherritt International is a resources company built from the bricks of a Canadian nickel miner, which recently celebrated its 80th anniversary, shown by the timeline in this article.

Sherritt International is a resources company built from the bricks of a Canadian nickel miner, which recently celebrated its 80th anniversary, shown by the timeline in this article. Despite the intervening decades and corporate upheavals, Sherritt is still a nickel company grounded in the strength of its research, technical innovation and operational expertise. But it has become international, and is aggressively focusing on growth in all its business units–metals, coal, power generation, and oil and gas.

In a recent two-hour interview with the company’s president and CEO Jowdat Waheed at its uptown Toronto head office, I learned that Sherritt has decided to get its story in front of the public, which prompted Waheed to invite me to visit the company’s metals, technology and coal offices and facilities in western Canada followed by a trip to see its Cuban assets, all in four days in early February.

[Nickel] Thompson Manitoba Named After Inco Chairman Dr. John F. Thompson

June 15, 2016

Dr. John F. Thompson (Image from Heritage North Musuem Website) — Dr. John F. Thompson (Image from Heritage North Museum Website)

Following ten years of mining exploration in the region, a major ore body was discovered on February 4, 1956, and a year later Thompson was founded. Named after INCO’s chairman, John F. Thompson, the new townsite was designed as a “planned community” following an agreement between the Government of Manitoba and INCO Limited.- (Heritage North Museum http://heritagenorthmuseum.ca/thompson-area/history-of-thompson.html)

Information Below Courtesy of Vale

The City of Thompson and the main orebody of Inco’s Manitoba operations (now owned by Vale) are named after Dr. John F. Thompson. Some historical records say Dr. Thompson’s name was used because he was celebrating his 50th anniversary with the company the year the orebody was discovered. But it was his accomplishments, not his time with Inco that earned him this honour.

From the beginning of his career with Inco, in 1906, Thompson played important roles in developing and encouraging the expanded use of various nickel alloys, introducing them to the textile, chemical, power and food service industries.

Vale marking 60 years of mining in Thompson this weekend – by Ian Graham (Thompson Citizen – June 15, 2016)

June 15, 2016

http://www.thompsoncitizen.net/

We weren’t even supposed to be here today, but the ore that is the foundation of Thompson in both the literal and figurative senses has outlived the original projections of its lifespan more than twofold, making it possible for Vale, which bought Inco in 2006, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Thompson operations this weekend.

When the decision to establish a mine and a town to service it was made following the discovery of nickel deposits in 1956, the plan was for the community – and its infrastructure – to be around for 25 years, says Vale Manitoba Operations corporate affairs and organizational development manager Ryan Land. That it has far outlasted that prediction means the community is now repairing and replacing much of that infrastructure but also that Thompson itself has grown to become more than just a mining town.

“We are already a diversified economy,” says Land. “That regional hub thing is real. The region sustains Thompson as much as Vale if not more.”

Encouraging results for Sudbury mining company Wallbridge – by Staff (Sudbury Star – June 1, 2016)

June 1, 2016

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Wallbridge Mining Company Limited says new studies of its flagship Parkin Properties in Sudbury show promising results. Lively-based Wallbridge is exploring the Parkin Properties, located north of Capreol, for nickel, copper, and platinum group metal mineralization.

“We continue to have excellent results from our exploration programs at Parkin as demonstrated by the results reported in the last few months. Attractive copper, nickel, and PGM grades continue to be intersected and the mineralization intersected in the most recent holes is expanding the near-surface mineralization yet further north,” Marz Kord, president and CEO of Wallbridge, said in a release.

“With over nine kilometres of strike length with similar under-explored geology, the potential for further discoveries of new zones on the Parkin Offset dyke looks very promising,” Kord said.

China’s nickel imports still flattering to deceive – by Andy Home (Reuters U.S. – May 25, 2016)

May 25, 2016

http://www.reuters.com/

LONDON – China is importing more nickel than ever before. Headline imports of refined metal hit a new all-time record high of 49,012 tonnes in April. The cumulative tally of 157,600 tonnes over the first four months of the year represents a 115,000-tonne increase over the same period of last year.

Imports of ferronickel have also surged to 294,700 tonnes so far this year, which is already more than any previous calendar year with the exception of 2015.

Somewhere in this flow of material lies an unfolding bull narrative, one of falling Chinese production and resurgent demand. The problem is that there is too much else going on in the import data to get a good view of the shifting Chinese nickel landscape.

NEWS RELEASE: Wallbridge Mining Enters Into Agreement to Acquire Fenelon Gold Project in Quebec

May 25, 2016

http://www.wallbridgemining.com/

Toronto, Ontario — May 25, 2016 – Wallbridge Mining Company Limited (TSX: WM, FWB: WC7) (“Wallbridge”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding Letter of Intent (“LOI”) dated May 24, 2016 (the “Agreement Date”) to acquire 100% of the Fenelon Gold Property (“Fenelon Mine Property”) from Balmoral Resources Ltd.
(TSX:BAR; OTCQX:BALMF) (“Balmoral”) for a purchase price of $3.6 M.

The Fenelon Mine Property is an advanced stage project with near-term production potential, as well as drill intersections suggesting exploration potential for resource expansion. The project is located in West-Central Quebec, within the same geological belt that hosts the large Detour Gold mine in Ontario.

“This acquisition is an important step forward for Wallbridge as we implement our strategy of becoming a sustainable producer. Having completed our Broken Hammer open pit mine last year, where we achieved production substantially in excess of the resource estimate in the prefeasibility study and received recognition for safety, this new project allows us to leverage our experience and knowledge as a proven operator to create value for our shareholders.

[Royal Nickel] Canadians mop up Beta Hunt – by Jarrod Lucas (The West Australian – May 20, 2016)

May 20, 2016

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/

Canada’s Royal Nickel Corporation is buying out private Australian company Salt Lake Mining in exchange for $C10.9 million ($11.5 million) in shares, taking sole ownership of the Beta Hunt gold and nickel mine, near Kambalda.

Royal Nickel controls 66 per cent of Salt Lake, which is chaired by former Moly Mines boss Derek Fisher and acquired Beta Hunt for $10 million in 2013. An overwhelming 99.6 per cent of Royal Nickel shareholders voted in favour of sweeping up the remaining interest in Salt Lake at a meeting in Toronto on Wednesday.

Royal Nickel will shell out 1.8775 shares for each remaining Salt Lake share, or a total of 24.32 million shares, and hopes to complete the deal this month.

Why Lithium Isn’t the Big Worry for Lithium-Ion Batteries – by Jason Deign (Green Teck Media.com – June 23, 2015)

May 19, 2016

http://www.greentechmedia.com/

Why Lithium Isn’t the Big Worry for Lithium-Ion Batteries – Cobalt and nickel bottlenecks are a much bigger threat.

Lithium-ion battery production is more likely to be constrained by cobalt or nickel supplies than by lithium availability, experts believe.

Li-ion battery makers use both metals in greater quantities than lithium, which has been the subject of significant supply concerns as battery production ramps up. In fact, none of these minerals are worryingly scarce in nature.

What troubles some observers, however, is that cobalt and nickel are susceptible to greater supply-chain risks because of the countries that control the resources.