Output resumes at Madagascar's Ambatovy nickel project

: Fertilizers, Metals
21/03/29

The Ambatovy nickel and cobalt project in Madagascar has resumed production following a one-year closure because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Japanese trading house Sumitomo said today the Ambatovy joint venture is gradually increasing output after reopening the mine on 23 March.

The Ambatovy nickel project was suspended on 26 March last year after the Madagascar government applied restrictions to curb Covid-19, making it difficult for the project to secure transportation for workers and disrupting logistics. The project carried out maintenance during the closure.

Sumitomo said in February this year it was targeting to restart Ambatovy by the end of March and achieve stable operations during the April 2021-March 2022 fiscal year. Ambatovy's plateau nickel output is expected at 50,000 t/yr compared with 2019-20 output of 35,900t.

Ambatovy is 54.17pc owned by Sumitomo and the rest by South Korea's Korea Resources.

By Rieko Suda

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