Voisey's Bay first ore success for Inco

Canadian nickel producer Inco has achieved another major milestone at its Voisey's Bay project in Labrador, Canada, with the first shipment of nickel concentrate last month, more than six months ahead of the original project schedule. The opening of the mine adds to Inco's financial strength as a secure and low-cost source of supply.

The concentrate was shipped to Quebec City and from there to the company's Sudbury refinery by rail. Inco expects to produce first finished nickel from the Voisey's Bay concentrate in the first quarter of 2006.

Production at Voisey's Bay will ramp up over coming months.The annual production capacity of Phase One of the Voisey's Bay project is expected to be 110 million pounds of nickel in concentrate, containing 5 million pounds of cobalt and up to 15 million pounds of copper. Phase One of the project will also produce copper concentrate containing approximately 70 million pounds of copper in concentrate annually.

Inco is also to develop another ore body at its Thompson mine in Manitoba. Work will start next year and production is expected in 2008.

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