:: Inco Turns Ground at Argentia

Inco Ltd has begun ground preparation for a US$200 million demonstration hydrometallurgical plant at Argentia in Newfoundland.

The plant is the key to, and the first stage of, development of the huge Voisey's Bay nickel project. The prolonged delay of development at Voisey's Bay centred on Inco's plans to process the ore, as the Government of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador insisted on processing within its jurisdiction. Inco argued that the cost of conventional processing routes, given the current price of nickel, was prohibitive.

A complex agreement was reached earlier this year, allowing Inco to mine the deposit, essentially providing that it process the ore within the Province, using the hydrometallurgical process.