North American Palladium(AMEX:PAL)- PGM Producer Message Board

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Gold/Mining/Energy : North American Palladium(AMEX:PAL)- PGM Producer

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next

To: Jason Marcotte who wrote ()	1/28/2000 8:13:00 PM
From: Aurum	Read Replies (1) of 976

Future production of PGEs. Hi guys. I don't know if anyone has brought this up previously, but the new laterite ore projects in Australia and else where may have a major impact on production of PGEs in the future. This may happen because the laterite operations will not produce any PGEs, but they will probably drive the price of nickel and cobalt (particularly cobalt) down below the cost of production of the copper-nickel producers such as at Sudbury, Norilsk etc. And these copper-nickel sulphide mines supply 50%+ of the present world production of PGEs. The world is awash with potential laterite projects, so, if the Australian laterite projects ever iron out their problems and operate as planned there will be a rush to open other laterite projects. I note that Inco is already going ahead with its HPAL laterite pilot plant at Goro (in New Caledonia) while the Voisey's Bay project is stalled. So, it seems to me that Inco think that there is a reasonable chance that the Goro laterite project will work OK. (Incidentally, I wonder if Inco will bother with Voisey's if the Goro pilot plant performs well.) So, presumably, the Australian laterite projects also have a reasonable chance of working. Regarding Norilsk, there have been some rumours that these mines are being gutted of high grade ore, and that maintenance and development work have ceased. So, these mines may slow down or cease production sometime in the future. I can't imagine that anyone would invest money in Norilsk given the present conditions in Russia, so once the rich ore is rooted out Norilsk might cease production. High grading is what has killed many mines in the past.

Report TOU Violation

Share This Post

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next