Norilsk suspends production at Botswana nickel mine

Production and Markets

Publishing Date: 24 Dec 2008 11:30am GMT
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The world's top nickel producer, Russia's Norilsk Nickel, said on Wednesday it will halt for 12 days its Tati Nickel mine and concentrator in Botswana due to a furnace breakdown at a smelter that processes its concentrate.

"The smelter failure coupled with a steep decline in nickel prices has led to the decision to curtail operations for the period commencing Wednesday December 24 to January 5," a Norilsk statement said.

Norilsk said there had been an "unforeseen furnace breakdown" at the BCL smelter, which does not belong to the company.

Norilsk is planning to place its employees on formal paid leave during this period.

Tati produced approximately 20,000t of nickel in concentrate over the last 12 months, the statement said.

Norilsk said in June that it had postponed a project to refine nickel in Botswana.