Blackstone Minerals: completes study on scope definition of Ta Khoa Nickel Project

SMM News: recently, Blackstone Minerals (BSX) has completed a scope-defining study to restart the operation of the Ta Khoa nickel-copper-platinum-platinum group element (PGE) project in Vietnam. The project includes Ban Phuc open-pit mines, as well as upstream and downstream processing of nickel products, which will be used in Asia's growing Asian lithium-ion batteries.

The scoping study marks an important step in restarting the operation and development of the mine-to-market nickel business, which integrates one of the world's earliest green nickel processing facilities. Blackstone plans to reach a joint venture agreement with EcoPro, the largest shareholder, to jointly build downstream processing facilities. Upstream processing facilities may be financed through debt and equity.

Ta Khoa has scattered large nickel sulphide targets and 25 other prospects. The internal Ban Phuc mine operated as an underground mine between 2013 and 2016. During this period, it produced 20700 tons of nickel, 10100 tons of copper and 670 tons of cobalt. The scope study predicts that the annual production of nickel will be 12700 tons over the 8.5-year life of the project.

"while we are satisfied with the results of this study, we will continue to expand resources and increase our production potential in this exciting but untapped Vietnam region, and have begun PFS-level research on the project," the company said. The Ta Khoa project offers many opportunities for promotion and will generate great value, and scope research is only the starting point for the future of Ta Khoa's nickel business.