Ambatovy to Start Nickel Production in June

Ambatovy nickel project in Madagascar will start nickel ingot production as early as in June. The project already started production of mixed sulfide with 55% nickel and 4% cobalt in March. The project starts the final product of nickel ingot soon. The project expects to realize 70% operation in the year and full capacity operation in 2013.

Akira Takeuchi, who is executive officer of Sumitomo Corporation with 27.5% share in the project, said the project conducts operation test in the downstream and targets nickel ingot production in June.

The project is to launch integrated operation from mine to smelting for export for US$ total 6.4 billion. The project is one of the major projects for mineral resources division No.1 of Sumitomo Corp.

The project has annual around 60,000 tonnes of nickel production capacity, which represents around 4% of world production share. The project makes 5,600 tonnes of cobalt or world 9% share. Sumitomo Corp. sells a half of the nickel from the project for Japanese and Asian buyers.