Falconbridge is operator of the joint venture with La Société pour le Développement Minier de la Côte d'Ivoire, the state mining company of the Côte d'Ivoire, encompassing four significant nickel/cobalt bearing laterite deposits (Sipilou North, Foungouesso, Moyango and Viala) and three other occurrences (Sipilou South, Yamatoulo and Touoba). The corporation has an 85% interest in the project.
Exploration work has identified an indicated resource of 123.9 million tonnes of 1.57% nickel and 0.10% cobalt plus an inferred resource of 134.2 million tonnes of 1.39% nickel and 0.12% cobalt. Hydrometallurgical exploitation of the resources is potentially viable provided several key requirements can be satisfied, such as the development of a rail link to the coast.
The postponement of the project schedule established in the MOU (1996), in effect since February 1998, continues. This situation is a result of the general political environment in the country since the coup d'état in 1999, together with the postponement of the proposed scoping study for a railway that could service the project. Falconbridge maintains a presence in the country with an office in Abidjan and intends to progress with this project as soon as feasible.
For more information, please contact
exploration@falconbridge.com. |
