Glencore's Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations (Sudbury INO) is reporting the last ore has been pulled from its Nickel Rim South Mine.
In a recent social media post, Glencore said the mine marked the occasion earlier this summer and is now headed toward care and maintenance.
A mine operating under care and maintenance ceases production, but procedures are put into place to ensure the site is managed safely. Contrary to a full mine closure, care and maintenance leaves the door open for operations to potentially resume at a future date.
“At the end of July, the Nickel Rim South Mine at our Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations delivered its last ore — culminating in a milestone of over 18.3 million tonnes of production, over a span of almost 15 years of mining operations,” the nickel miner said in a statement. “The mine will transition to care and maintenance.”
Operations at the nickel-copper-precious metals mine, located northeast of Sudbury, began in 2009. The company has previously said it would reach the end of its life by the close of 2024.
But, over the years, the company has also engaged in talks with Vale, its neighbour in the Sudbury Basin, over a possible partnership that would enable the companies to save on costs.
The two parties initiated a joint feasibility study in 2018 to look at how to access mineral resources from Nickel Rim South, and the idea of collaboration was addressed again as recently as March, by Vale executive Mark Cutifani, during an appearance at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh.
In Sudbury, Vale owns and operates five mines, a mill, a smelter, and a refinery, while Sudbury INO owns and operates Nickel Rim South Mine and the Onaping Depth project. Properties owned by the two companies abut each other.
Over its lifetime, Nickel Rim South has been lauded for its safety record, earning multiple John T. Ryan Safety Awards, which are awarded by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
That includes the national trophy in 2022, and five regional trophies for Ontario between 2013 and 2023.
The company noted its close working relationship with nearby Wahnapitae First Nation, which began in 2008. The signing of a Resource Development Agreement in 2023 means the partnership will continue in the care and maintenance phase, Glencore said.
“We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who worked at and with Nickel Rim South Mine, and contributed to its reputation, locally and nationally,” the company concluded.
