:: Voisey's Bay Agreed at Last

After years of political and commercial wrangling, the Canadian-based nickel producer Inco Ltd has finally reached agreement in principle with the Government of the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador with respect to the development of the huge Voisey's Bay nickel-copper-cobalt deposits in Labrador.

Site preparation and work on infra-structure are due to begin next month, to take advantage of the northern summer, and mine construction is scheduled to start next year.

Key to this week's agreement has been the development by Inco of hydrometallurgical processing for nickel ores. This type of processing, which avoids the high capital cost and environmental disadvantages of a smelter, has been developed for treating nickel oxides, but is now being extended as a possible treatment route for sulphide ores.