Goro construction resumes

Having come to agreements with contractors and suppliers to avoid future disruptions, Inco (N-T) says it will plans a phased resumption of construction at its US$1.4-billion, nickel-cobalt laterite project in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia, reports Reuters.

Construction at Goro was halted at in mid-September after minor demonstrations by local contractors and suppliers. The demonstrations came as construction was about to enter a key phase focused on the commercial processing plant and associated facilities.

Pierre Alla, president and director-general of Goro Nickel unit, tells Reuters, “In our discussions to date, representatives of the contractors and others have agreed that our primary goal is to put in place procedures to enable labour and other grievances to be resolved without future disruptions to the Goro project.”

Inco says the interruption will not affect the mine’s startup in late 2004, as exploration and off-site road building continued during the shutdown.

At full steam, Goro will produce 54,000 tonnes of nickel and 5,400 tonnes of cobalt per year. The project is expected to provide 800 permanent jobs plus some 1,500 indirect jobs.

At last count, Goro’s reserves stood at 47 million tonnes grading 1.59% nickel and 0.17% cobalt. A further resource of 219 million tonnes grades 1.57% nickel and 0.18% cobalt.

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