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| Ravensthorpe Nickel Project/Western Australia Effects First Shipment In 2007 |
| = To Produce 220,000 Tons / Year Of MHP, To Operate Yabulu Nickel Refinery |
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BHP Billiton reported on the 24th of January about the present situation of the Ravensthorpe Nickel Project and the Yabulu Extension Project in Queensland of Australia. According to this report, the Revensthorpe Nickel Project is scheduled to produce a mixed nickel-cobalt hydroxide intermediate product ( MHP ) from April - June quarter of 2007 on a substantial scale and the first shipment of MHP will be effected in the same quarter. The Ravensthorpe Nickel Project was approved in March of 2004 by the board meeting of directors. This project includes the development of a mine, treatment plant and associated infrastructure near Ravensthorpe area in Western Australia. Also, in order to produce MHP, engineering, procurement, off site fabrication and infrastructure activities are all proceeding to schedule. On site, thickener and tank construction is well advanced and the acid plant construction is also proceeding to schedule. Following a review of project costs completed in August of 2005, a revised budget of US$1,340 million was approved. On the other hand, the Project to expand the capacity at the Yabulu refinery near Townsville in Queensland of Australia was approved in March of 2004 by the board meeting of directors and the Yabulu refinery is being expanded to process up to 220,000 tons per annum in material of MHP. This additional processing capacity will increase refinery production to 76,000 tons per annum of nickel metal and 3,500 tons per annum of cobalt metal. For a reference, the Yabulu refinery produced 28,400 tons of nickel metal and 1,400 tons of cobalt metal in 2005. Following a review of project costs completed in August of 2005, a revised budget of US$460 million was approved. The first production of nickel metal from the expanded Yabulu refinery is on schedule for July - September quarter of 2007. |
| last modified : Wed 01 Feb, 2006 [10:45] |
