December 02, 2008

Gladstone Pacific Nickel refinery to start by 2008 end

Gladstone Pacific Nickel Limited has announced its JV with a New Caledonian company as the launching pad for their proposed nickel refinery in Gladstone in central Queensland. The new refinery is due to begin construction by the end of next year.

The two companies will together develop a mine in New Caledonia, which will provide ore for the Gladstone operation and balance ore will come from Marlborough north of Rockhampton.

Mr Gavin Becker GM of Gladstone Pacific Nickel said that they still have a lot of work to do. He said "We are expecting formal environmental approvals by the end of the year when we finish our supplementary report and we're doing our engineering studies. There is a big funding requirement for the project to get away but nickel prices are very strong so the project is looking very viable."