Jaguar had hoped the process, which leaches nickel from laterite using a chloride solution, would allow for extraction at a low cost. The system operates at atmospheric pressure, rather than the high pressures used in pressure acid leaching, and Jaguar had recognized its potential for reducing capital costs by bypassing autoclaves.
The capital cost of the plant had been estimated at US$306 million.
The Sechol laterites, however, have a high magnesium content, which diminishes the effectiveness of the process. Jaguar will retain its patent on the process against the day it can use it on low-magnesium nickel laterites or on nickel sulphide mineralization.
Jaguar’s next step at Sechol is to evaluate a proven extraction process. The company is also drilling the laterite and expects to come up with a new resource figure in the next two months. In March 2004, Sechol was estimated to have a measured and indicated resource of 37 million tonnes grading 1.4% nickel, based on a cutoff grade of 1% nickel.
The Sechol project is in the Lake Izabal region.
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