Models Production Of High-Grade Nickel Concentrate
Giga Metals Corp. (TSXV: GIGA) has released the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for its wholly-owned Turnagain Project in northwest British Columbia.
The project is estimated to produce nickel in concentrate with a low greenhouse gas footprint (Scope 1 and Scope 2) of <2.5 t/t Ni over the project life.
Should electric mining fleet equipment become available in suitable capacities, the use of such a fleet is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to <0.7 t/t nickel. At these rates, the CO2-sequestering capabilities of the Turnagain tailings may enable the project to be carbon-neutral.
The Turnagain PEA demonstrates the potential for establishing a long-life open-pit mine and mill using conventional froth flotation technology to produce high-grade nickel sulphide concentrate.
With a phased implementation to a facility with a throughput rate of 90,000 tonnes per day, annual production is projected to average more than 33,000 tonnes per year nickel (73 million pounds per year) for a project life of 37 years. The PEA has identified numerous opportunities for project improvement.
