Western Areas green lights development of Odysseus nickel mine in WA

Following the completion of a definitive feasibility study (DFS), Western Areas has given the green light to the development of the Odysseus nickel mine, which is part of the Cosmos Nickel Complex located 30 kilometres north of Leinster, Western Australia.

The DFS conducted on Odysseus has confirmed that the mine has a 10-year life, producing up to 130,000 tonnes of contained nickel concentrate. The DFS also estimates that the development of the mine will cost approximately $299 million.

According to Western Area’s Managing Director Dan Lougher, the team responsible for the DFS has refined the work done during the pre-feasibility study (PFS) and it has resulted in positive outcomes that delivered a larger and longer life for the Odysseus mine.

“The Odysseus ore reserve is now 164,500 tonnes of nickel, with the life of mine nickel concentrate production increasing by 42,700 tonnes to 130,100 tonnes compared to the PFS,” Mr Lougher said.

Western Areas is anticipating to produce first nickel concentrate at the mine by December 2022. The Odysseus mine is expected to be one of the few nickel sulphide mines that will come into production with the demand for class-one nickel forecasted to increase in the electric vehicle (EV) sector.

The next steps for the project will include completing an early capital works program that commenced early in 2018 as well as engaging with mining contractors and suppliers for the construction phase of the mine.

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Source: Australian Mining; Western Areas; The West Australian