Nickel – Page 91 – Republic of Mining

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.

Driving to lower carbon living: Elon Musk and his electric car (Nickel Magazine – July 2014)

May 19, 2016

https://www.nickelinstitute.org/

Tesla Motors and the driving force behind it, Elon Musk, have captured the attention of the world. Tesla is taking a 20th century idea and shows every sign of turning it into a disruptive force in the automotive world in the 21st century. The man and the machine collectively constitute a game changer, for which nickel is essential.

Battery Evolution

The battery industry is in a prolonged period of research, development and end-use specialization. At the same time, ‘nickel’ is disappearing from the name of the dominant battery chemistries in favour of ‘lithium’.

That, however, disguises the reality that nickel continues to contribute its unique qualities to most lithium-ion chemistries. Sometimes it will be a supporting role (the electrode tabs, for instance) but sometimes it is an essential component of the chemistry itself.

Norilsk Sees Nickel in Cars Tripling as Tesla Drives Sales – by Yuliya Fedorinova and Andrey Lemeshko (Bloomberg News – April 14, 2015)

May 19, 2016

http://www.bloomberg.com/

Nickel demand from the auto industry is set to rise as much as threefold in five years as output of electric and hybrid cars gathers pace, according to Russia’s largest producer of the metal.

“Hybrid and electric cars make more demand for nickel,” Anton Berlin, head of strategic marketing at OAO GMK Norilsk Nickel, said in an interview in Moscow. “It will rise because many automobile companies, such as Tesla Motors, have very ambitious plans for the future.”

Electric and hybrid vehicles are increasingly becoming a low-cost alternative for consumers as their batteries — which use nickel — get cheaper and more efficient. That may aid a recovery in the market for the metal after prices slumped because of oversupply in the stainless-steel industry.

Top Palladium Miner Rebuffs Risk of Tesla Electric Car Boom – by Yuliya Fedorinova (Bloomberg News – May 16, 2016)

May 16, 2016

http://www.bloomberg.com/

The rise of Tesla Motors Inc.’s electric cars won’t be enough to change the market for conventional vehicles or dent demand for the precious metals used to filter exhaust fumes, according to GMK Norilsk Nickel PJSC.

The lack of infrastructure to charge them and the pressure on power grids means that in the long term, the vehicles may comprise just 15 percent of the total auto market, according to Anton Berlin, head of analysis and market development for Norilsk. In the next five years, the market’s size will be limited to about 2 percent.

Norilsk is the world’s biggest producer of palladium, which are used along with platinum in catalytic converters that reduce car pollution. While the company would lose some business if electric cars, which don’t produce toxic emissions, becomes a significant part of the auto industry, it would benefit from more demand for nickel, which is used in the batteries.

Delay, delay for KGHM’s Sudbury Victoria mine project – by Staff (Northern Ontario Business – April 29, 2016)

April 29, 2016

http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Sudbury’s next great base metals mine is “advancing,” but at a “reduced pace.” That’s the word coming from Polish mining giant KGHM International on its Victoria Mine project, lauded by many in the Sudbury camp as the next great nickel and base metals mine.

After some layoffs in March, the company issued an April 29 news release with a reassuring tone amid ongoing rumours in the community that the company might be mothballing the project.

“Although the anticipated date of commencement of construction of Victoria has been delayed, this does not impact other necessary and essential activities at Victoria,” said the release. “Development activities will continue to progress to ensure that the project is ready to commence construction when the market conditions for base metals improve.”

Column: How Shanghai trading is changing the physical nickel market – Andy Home (Reuters U.S.- April 29, 2016)

April 29, 2016

http://www.reuters.com/

LONDON – Everyone’s talking about Chinese speculators. This year has seen an unprecedented surge of trading volumes and open interest in Chinese markets as institutional and retail investors pour money into commodities.

Both the Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE) and the Dalian Exchange are upping margin requirements and transaction fees to try and calm overheating contracts such as steel rebar and iron ore.

The stampede appears to have been halted with both prices and trading activity losing some of their recent froth. But the current trading frenzy shouldn’t distract from the growing global influence of China’s domestic commodity exchanges.

Quarter of Nickel Miners Seen Battling to Survive in Price Rout – by Joe Deaux (Bloomberg News – April 12, 2016)

April 13, 2016

http://www.bloomberg.com/

A quarter of the world’s nickel miners are caught in a game of chicken, churning out the stainless steel ingredient at a loss in the hope that competitors will shut first, according to research firm IHS Inc.

The price of nickel slumped 30 percent in the past year, the worst performance among major metals traded on the London Metal Exchange, as slowing demand helps feed a global glut. Stockpiles on the LME are up fivefold since 2011, and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. estimates a surplus of 90,000 metric tons in 2016, according to a Feb. 8 report.

“Very few industries can support that, and yet we’ve seen a minimal supply-side reaction,” Jason Kaplan, a commodities research manager at Englewood, Colorado-based IHS, said Tuesday in a telephone interview. “Everybody is looking at each other hoping that the guy down the street will fail before them.”