In 2001, Falconbridge discovered Nickel Rim South – a high-grade 13.4 million tonne inferred resource with over 1.8% nickel, 3.3% copper, 0.04% cobalt, 1.8 grade per tonne platinum, 2.0 grade per tonne palladium and 0.8 grade per tonne gold. A five-year, underground definition program began in the first quarter of 2004. After taking into account pre-production revenues, the overall net capital investment to bring the mine into production is estimated to be $412 million.

Nickel Rim South will be one of the lowest-cost mines in the history of Falconbridge at Sudbury. As of mid-2005, the ventilation and production shaft is on schedule and on budget. Main shaft sinking has started. Infrastructure at the site has been constructed to achieve production of at least 1 million tonnes per year of ore. With production scheduled to commence in 2009, Nickel Rim South will extend Falconbridge's presence in the Sudbury Basin for at least 20 years.

For more information, please contact projectsengineering@falconbridge.com.