:: Nkomati Extends Nickel Operations

LionOre Mining and African Rainbow Minerals have approved the interim expansion project at the Nkomati nickel mine in Mpumalanga. The R384 million (US$62 million) project, which is scheduled to reach full production by the end of 2007, is designed to maintain output at 5 kt/a of contained nickel between the depletion of the current orebody (in 2008) and the proposed major expansion project planned for 2010. The interim project includes a new 100 kt/month concentrator, which will form an integral part of the larger expansion project. The feasibility study for the larger project, which is expected include an Activox^® refinery, is scheduled to be completed during 2007.