[ferro-alloys.com] Another potential nickel supply problem may be developing. Sherritt International said that it has not secured an operating permit for the Ambatovy nickel/cobalt project in Madagascar, and it is working with authorities so that it can achieve its stated goal of reaching 70% of mixed sulfides production capacity by early 2013.

 

Sherritt has obtained the appropriate permits for commissioning and testing the plant. About 700 mt of nickel and cobalt in mixed sulfides were introduced to the refinery in the second quarter of this year. A preliminary batch of nickel briquettes was sintered on June 26 as a test. Cobalt reduction and subsequent process steps are ready for start-up once sufficient process inventory is accumulated. Ambatovy is designed to produce 60,000 mtpy of nickel and 5,600 mtpy of cobalt.