Production commenced in 2005 and, in 2007, RNR was acquired by Lundin Mining Corporation ("Lundin"). Lundin continued to operate the Aguablanca Project until 2015 through an open-pit exploitation and on-site processing plant. The concentrate produced in the plant during the period from 2005 through 2015 totaled 997,575 tonnes with an average grade of 6.67% Ni and 5.99% Cu, containing 66,552 tonnes of Ni metal and 59,236 tonnes of Cu metal. The recovery in the plant was 80% for Ni and 92% for Cu.
The Underground Mining Plan for the Aguablanca mine has already been approved by the local mining authority. The Environmental Impact Study ("EIS") approved in 2017 is still in force. All surface facilities at the mine, including the 5,000 tpd processing plant, are in good condition and maintenance activities to resume plant operation are expected to last no longer than 6 months. |