Cuba's unrefined nickel plus cobalt production appears to have been between 60,000 and 65,000 tonnes this year, the lowest in a decade, according to scattered radio reports this week.
Cuba produced 70,400 tonnes of unrefined nickel and cobalt in 2008, after averaging between 74,000 and 75,000 tonnes during much of the decade.
While production at Canadian mining company Sherritt International's (S.TO) nickel venture in Cuba topped 37,000 tonnes, output at two plants owned by state-run Cubaniquel was well below capacity.
Cuba has not announced this year's nickel output, with officials simply stating it was less than the 70,000 tonnes planned.
The Caribbean island is one of the world's largest nickel producers and supplies 10 percent of the world's cobalt, according to the Basic Industry Ministry.
"The Pedro Soto Alba plant met this year's plan, producing more than 37,000 tonnes of nickel, and remains open," Jorge Cuevas Ramos, the first secretary of the Communist Party in Holguin, was quoted by national state-run Radio Rebelde on Wednesday as stating.
Radio stations based in Holguin, where the three plants are located, reported this week that production at the Cuba-owned Ernesto Che Guevara plant, with a capacity of 32,000 tonnes, did not meet it's 26,000-tonne plan.
There was no mention of output at the country's third and oldest plant, the Rene Ramos Latourt at Nicaro Holguin, which has a capacity of 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes and is also operated by Cubaniquel.
Scattered reports this year indicated Rene Ramos Latourt and the feed process to the plant were operating below capacity at various times, so there were most likely production problems there as well.
Hurricane Ike, a Category 3 storm, hit Cuba in September 2008 at Holguin's northern coast, where the nickel industry's three processing plants are located, damaging the two Cubaniquel plants, infrastructure, housing and buildings and swamping the area with torrential rains and a storm surge.
Nickel is essential in the production of stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys. Cobalt is critical in production of super alloys used for such products as aircraft engines.
Cuban nickel is considered to be Class II, with an average 90 percent nickel content.
Cuba's National Minerals Resource Center reported that eastern Holguin province accounted for more than 30 percent of the world's known nickel reserves, with lesser reserves in other parts of the country.
Source: Reuters
Showing posts with label cuba. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cuba. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Cuban Nickel Plants Reopen Despite Downturn
Cuba's three nickel processing plants remain open despite low international prices, state-run radio said over the weekend in a report that urged workers to improve efficiency.
The national radio newscast report on eastern Holguin province, where the nickel industry is based, said, "The factories continue to produce with more discipline and efficiency and that's what is needed."
The report dealt with how the province was coping with the global financial crisis and slowdown.
"Thousands of families in Moa, Nicaro and other areas in Holguin depend on nickel. International nickel prices have fallen close to 80 percent ... but not a single worker in the industry has been thrown onto the street," the report said.
Cuban Vice President Jose Ramon Machado Ventura warned earlier this month that nickel prices were on the verge of making the island's most important export industry unprofitable.
"Nickel has declined from $50,000 per tonne to $10,000, $9,000 and at $9,000 it is no longer profitable, and we have been selling nickel these days at $9,000, then up to $10,000," Machado told reporters.
The country produced some 70,000 tonnes of unrefined nickel plus cobalt in 2008 for export.
Cuba's two state-run plants average 117 barrels of fuel oil to produce a tonne of product for market, according to western businessmen.
A third plant run as a joint venture with Canada's Sherritt International consumes around 35 barrels of oil per tonne of output, they said.
The Caribbean island is one of the world's largest nickel producers and supplies 10 percent of the world's cobalt, according to Cuba's Basic Industry Ministry.
Nickel is essential in the production of stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys, while cobalt is critical for making super alloys used in aircraft engines and other products.
Nickel has accounted for more than 50 percent of export earnings in recent years, not including services.
Since the United States established a commission in 2006 to track Cuban nickel as part of sanctions, information on the sector has been restricted.
Cuban nickel is considered to be Class II with an average 90 percent nickel content.
Cuba's National Minerals Resource Centre has reported that eastern Holguin province has 34 percent of the world's known reserves, or some 800 million tonnes, of proven nickel plus cobalt reserves.
The centre says the region holds an additional 2.2 billion tonnes of probable reserves, with lesser reserves in other parts of the country.
Source: Reuters
The national radio newscast report on eastern Holguin province, where the nickel industry is based, said, "The factories continue to produce with more discipline and efficiency and that's what is needed."
The report dealt with how the province was coping with the global financial crisis and slowdown.
"Thousands of families in Moa, Nicaro and other areas in Holguin depend on nickel. International nickel prices have fallen close to 80 percent ... but not a single worker in the industry has been thrown onto the street," the report said.
Cuban Vice President Jose Ramon Machado Ventura warned earlier this month that nickel prices were on the verge of making the island's most important export industry unprofitable.
"Nickel has declined from $50,000 per tonne to $10,000, $9,000 and at $9,000 it is no longer profitable, and we have been selling nickel these days at $9,000, then up to $10,000," Machado told reporters.
The country produced some 70,000 tonnes of unrefined nickel plus cobalt in 2008 for export.
Cuba's two state-run plants average 117 barrels of fuel oil to produce a tonne of product for market, according to western businessmen.
A third plant run as a joint venture with Canada's Sherritt International consumes around 35 barrels of oil per tonne of output, they said.
The Caribbean island is one of the world's largest nickel producers and supplies 10 percent of the world's cobalt, according to Cuba's Basic Industry Ministry.
Nickel is essential in the production of stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys, while cobalt is critical for making super alloys used in aircraft engines and other products.
Nickel has accounted for more than 50 percent of export earnings in recent years, not including services.
Since the United States established a commission in 2006 to track Cuban nickel as part of sanctions, information on the sector has been restricted.
Cuban nickel is considered to be Class II with an average 90 percent nickel content.
Cuba's National Minerals Resource Centre has reported that eastern Holguin province has 34 percent of the world's known reserves, or some 800 million tonnes, of proven nickel plus cobalt reserves.
The centre says the region holds an additional 2.2 billion tonnes of probable reserves, with lesser reserves in other parts of the country.
Source: Reuters
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Price Fall Threatens Cuban Nickel Industry
Cuban Vice President Jose Machado Ventura warned international nickel prices were on the verge of making the island's most important export industry unprofitable, state-run radio reported Thursday.
"Nickel has declined from $50,000 per tonne to $10,000, $9,000 and at $9,000 it is no longer profitable, and we have been selling nickel these days at $9,000, then up to $10,000," Machado told reporters in eastern Cuba where the industry is located.
Ventura's statement was the latest indication the government is considering cutting back on unrefined nickel and cobalt production at two state-run processing plants.
The country produced some 70,000 tonnes in 2008 for export.
Cuba's two state-run plants average 117 barrels of fuel oil to produce a tonne of product for market, according to western businessmen.
A third plant run as a joint venture with Canada's Sherritt International consumes around 35 barrels of oil per tonne of output, they said, and plans to produce around 33,000 tonnes this year.
State-run television's top economic commentator, Ariel Terrero, said last month that the international economic crisis was hitting the nickel industry hard, with little prospect for improvement in the short term.
"Evidently we will have to take measures. They are studying the best way to adjust production in the face of low prices on the international market," he said.
The Caribbean island is one of the world's largest nickel producers and supplies 10 percent of the world's cobalt, according to Cuba's Basic Industry Ministry.
Nickel is essential in the production of stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys, while cobalt is critical for making super alloys used in aircraft engines and other products.
Nickel has accounted for more than 50 percent of export earnings in recent years, not including services.
Since the United States established a commission in 2006 to track Cuban nickel as part of sanctions, information on the sector has been restricted.
Cuban nickel is considered to be Class II with an average 90 percent nickel content.
Cuba's National Minerals Resource Center has reported that eastern Holguin province has 34 percent of the world's known reserves, or some 800 million tonnes, of proven nickel plus cobalt reserves.
The center says the region holds an additional 2.2 billion tonnes of probable reserves, with lesser reserves in other parts of the country.
Source: Reuters
"Nickel has declined from $50,000 per tonne to $10,000, $9,000 and at $9,000 it is no longer profitable, and we have been selling nickel these days at $9,000, then up to $10,000," Machado told reporters in eastern Cuba where the industry is located.
Ventura's statement was the latest indication the government is considering cutting back on unrefined nickel and cobalt production at two state-run processing plants.
The country produced some 70,000 tonnes in 2008 for export.
Cuba's two state-run plants average 117 barrels of fuel oil to produce a tonne of product for market, according to western businessmen.
A third plant run as a joint venture with Canada's Sherritt International consumes around 35 barrels of oil per tonne of output, they said, and plans to produce around 33,000 tonnes this year.
State-run television's top economic commentator, Ariel Terrero, said last month that the international economic crisis was hitting the nickel industry hard, with little prospect for improvement in the short term.
"Evidently we will have to take measures. They are studying the best way to adjust production in the face of low prices on the international market," he said.
The Caribbean island is one of the world's largest nickel producers and supplies 10 percent of the world's cobalt, according to Cuba's Basic Industry Ministry.
Nickel is essential in the production of stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys, while cobalt is critical for making super alloys used in aircraft engines and other products.
Nickel has accounted for more than 50 percent of export earnings in recent years, not including services.
Since the United States established a commission in 2006 to track Cuban nickel as part of sanctions, information on the sector has been restricted.
Cuban nickel is considered to be Class II with an average 90 percent nickel content.
Cuba's National Minerals Resource Center has reported that eastern Holguin province has 34 percent of the world's known reserves, or some 800 million tonnes, of proven nickel plus cobalt reserves.
The center says the region holds an additional 2.2 billion tonnes of probable reserves, with lesser reserves in other parts of the country.
Source: Reuters
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Cuba May Cut Nickel Production
Cuba may soon join a growing list of countries shutting down nickel plants in the face of slumping prices, sources close to the industry said this week, in the latest indication the international economic crisis has begun to bite.
Unrefined nickel and cobalt production at two state-run processing plants are under review due to their inefficiencies.
"With prices below $10,000 per tonne and an average 117 barrels of fuel oil needed to produce a tonne for market, it is only logical they would be considering cutting back," a foreign businessman said Tuesday, asking his name not be used.
Cutbacks are being considered at two state run plants.
A third plant run as a joint venture with Canada's Sherritt International (S.TO) consumes around 35 barrels of oil per tonne of output and plans to produce around 33,000 tonnes this year are unchanged, according to industry sources.
State-run television's top economic commentator, Ariel Terrero, said last week that the international economic crisis was hitting the nickel industry hard, with little prospect for improvement in the short term.
"Evidently we will have to take measures. They are studying the best way to adjust production in the face of low prices on the international market," he said.
The Caribbean island is one of the world's largest nickel producers at 70,400 tonnes in 2008, and supplies 10 percent of the world's cobalt, according to Cuba's Basic Industry Ministry.
Nickel is essential in the production of stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys, while cobalt is critical for making super alloys used in aircraft engines and other products.
Nickel has accounted for more than 50 percent of export earnings in recent years, not including services.
Since the United States established a commission in 2006 to track Cuban nickel as part of sanctions, information on the sector has been restricted.
Cuban nickel is considered to be Class II with an average 90 percent nickel content.
Cuba's National Minerals Resource Center has reported that eastern Holguin province has 34 percent of the world's known reserves, or some 800 million tonnes, of proven nickel plus cobalt reserves.
The center says the region holds an additional 2.2 billion tonnes of probable reserves, with lesser reserves in other parts of the country.
Source: Reuters
Unrefined nickel and cobalt production at two state-run processing plants are under review due to their inefficiencies.
"With prices below $10,000 per tonne and an average 117 barrels of fuel oil needed to produce a tonne for market, it is only logical they would be considering cutting back," a foreign businessman said Tuesday, asking his name not be used.
Cutbacks are being considered at two state run plants.
A third plant run as a joint venture with Canada's Sherritt International (S.TO) consumes around 35 barrels of oil per tonne of output and plans to produce around 33,000 tonnes this year are unchanged, according to industry sources.
State-run television's top economic commentator, Ariel Terrero, said last week that the international economic crisis was hitting the nickel industry hard, with little prospect for improvement in the short term.
"Evidently we will have to take measures. They are studying the best way to adjust production in the face of low prices on the international market," he said.
The Caribbean island is one of the world's largest nickel producers at 70,400 tonnes in 2008, and supplies 10 percent of the world's cobalt, according to Cuba's Basic Industry Ministry.
Nickel is essential in the production of stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys, while cobalt is critical for making super alloys used in aircraft engines and other products.
Nickel has accounted for more than 50 percent of export earnings in recent years, not including services.
Since the United States established a commission in 2006 to track Cuban nickel as part of sanctions, information on the sector has been restricted.
Cuban nickel is considered to be Class II with an average 90 percent nickel content.
Cuba's National Minerals Resource Center has reported that eastern Holguin province has 34 percent of the world's known reserves, or some 800 million tonnes, of proven nickel plus cobalt reserves.
The center says the region holds an additional 2.2 billion tonnes of probable reserves, with lesser reserves in other parts of the country.
Source: Reuters
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