Australian resources firm IGO has resumed mining and processing nickel following a 3 December fire at its Nova operation in Western Australia (WA).
But IGO expects the three-week suspension to reduce its output to its guidance range or just below it. The fire has resulted in lower-than-expected production at the mine over October-December. The mine was originally forecast to produce 24,000-27,000t of nickel in concentrate in the July 2022 to June 2023 fiscal year, the Perth-based firm said.
The suspension will also weigh on the output of byproduct copper and cobalt, which had an original guidance of 11,000-12,000t and 900-1,000t, respectively, for 2022-23.
IGO, which also produces lithium through a joint venture with China's Tianqi Lithium, also expects to produce 10,500-12,500t of nickel in concentrate in 2022-23 at its recently-acquired Forrestania operation in WA.
The firm's guidance for nickel from Nova and Forrestania is 34,500-39,500t, which is also affected by the fire disruption. IGO will publish its October-December and half-year production figures on 31 January next year.
