The Acoje and Zambales deposits are based on Luzon Island in the Philippines. The deposits have a combined JORC resource of 840,000 contained tonnes of nickel. The Company is fast tracking a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS).
The proposed mining operation at Acoje will have a significant positive economic impact on the local and regional community.
Pre-Feasibility Study
A positive PFS demonstrated an economically viable, heap leach nickel laterite project, producing 24,500tpa nickel and 930tpa cobalt in mixed hydroxide product (MHP) over an initial 10 year life of mine. There is significant potential to extend the mine life by converting the JORC Inferred Acoje and Zambales Chromite deposits to JORC Indicated status.
The total development cost is estimated at US$498 million including infrastructure and working capital.
Definitive Feasibility Study
A DFS is underway at Acoje, which includes large scale batch testwork at the Acoje Test Centre (ATC). The test work programme for the 4m full column tests has passed its 100 day mark and is progressing in line with expectation. The ATC will provide all the metallurgical data required for the DFS.
In addition to the DFS, ENK will run a full scale heap leach trial to demonstrate the operability of the heap leach process under Philippines equatorial conditions, such as the use of raincoats. The DFS timeline is not dependent on the commencement of the heap leach trial.
The Zambales Deposit
At the Zambales deposit, an exploration programme focusing on the nickel saprolite ore is underway to increase the resource further.
