Mirabela 'plans increased investment in Bahia'
Date added: 7th December, 2009 at 09:47
(view all articles from December, 2009)
Categories: Natural Resources
Investment in Bahia's nickel ore industry could consolidate an Australian company's position as the second biggest miner in Brazil, according to a state official.
Antonio de Jesus Santana, a technical officer at state-owned exploration company CBPM, told Bloomberg that Mirabela is considering expanding its facility in the North East state.
This would involve the firm building a smelter and beginning underground mining at the Santa Rita site, which it has agreed to rent for 20 years, he said.
Managing director of Mirabela Nicholas Poll confirmed that the company is studying such an opportunity at a location in the Latin American country, although he did not release further details.
Mr Santana said: "Underground mining would expand Santa Rita's productive life from the 10 years foreseen with an open-pit operation.
"The underground mine and the smelter projects go hand-in-hand," he added.
Santa Rita is the largest discovery of nickel sulphide anywhere in the world for more than a decade, according to the company.
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