NICKEL: KGHM puts McCreedy West mine on care and maintenance Oct. 1

ONTARIO – KGHM International of Toronto says low metal prices are forcing it to put its McCreedy West nickel mine on care and maintenance by Oct. 1, 2015. The mine is located near Sudbury.

The report surfaced in the Sept 21 issue of Northern Ontario Business based on information from the United Steelworkers Local 2020. The union said that in addition to the 25 jobs lost at McCreedy West, 15 more jobs will be axed at the Morrison project.

The McCreedy West mine, owned by Inco and later by its successor Vale, went into production in 1970. KGHM International purchased the property in 2002 and began mining the contact nickel deposit in 2003. From 2005-11, the copper footwall was exploited. Mining was most recently confined to the high copper-precious metals-nickel deposit.

KGHM is developing the underground Victoria nickel mine, also near Sudbury. The McCreedy West suspension is not expected to delay this opening in 2019. Click here for more information on Victoria.