Japanese Firm Expected To Bid
The Solomon Islands government is set to publish an international tender for a nickel mine in San Jorge and Takata, in the islands’ Isabel Province towards the end of next week.
Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, David Day Pacha revealed this yesterday during a presentation to the government by the Sumitomo Metal Mining of Japan.
Mr Pacha said his officers are now finalising the papers and the tender for the nickel mine operations in Isabel will be announced and opened for bid on the 15th April.
Ichiro Abe of Sumitomo, said his company will submit a bid during the tender but he appealed to the government to ensure the tender conditions be fair. He said it should consider the capability of the successful company as well as what they are expected to offer to the people.
Sumitomo has been exploring for nickel-ore deposits in Isabel and Choiseul provinces since 2006 and plans to construct a High Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) plant that can process a low grade nickel ore into high grade ore. According to Mr Abe, Isabel and Choiseul have a lot of low grade ore.
“With the technology we have, we can develop these low grade ores into something valuable,” he said
He added that SMM is one the few companies to have this technology.
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