(Kitco News) – Atlantic Nickel today announced record operating and financial performance in 2021 at the company’s Santa Rita nickel sulphide mine located in Bahia, Brazil.
According to the company’s statement, in its first full year of production, Santa Rita produced 107kdmt of nickel concentrate containing 14.5kt of nickel, 4.7kt of copper and 266t of cobalt and gold, platinum and palladium by-products.
Atlantic Nickel also said it posted US$127 million of EBITDA on US$289 million of revenue.
However, the company reported a geotechnical issue at Santa Rita.
On November 9, a crack propagated across a portion of the pit wall in the vicinity of phase 5, the company noted, adding that the resulting geotechnical instability was localized in scope and directly affected <1% of the pit’s total surface area.
“These types of events occur in the normal course of mining operations and can be adequately managed. As a precaution, mining was suspended in the affected area and constant 24/7 radar monitoring established. No safety related incidents occurred related to the event or otherwise,” the company said in a statement.
In 2022, Atlantic Nickel expects that operation to maintain its current production levels, processing 6.4 Mtpa of ore and producing c.19 kt NiEq contained in concentrate.
Atlantic Nickel is the owner and operator of Santa Rita, an open-pit nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide operation located in Bahia, Brazil.
The company indicated that Santa Rita is one of the very few long-life nickel sulphide mines in operation globally, boasting 34 years of mine life producing between 20-35 ktpa NiEq contained in concentrate.