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Madagascar's nickel and cobalt miner Ambatovy closes down ore pipeline

Madagascar's nickel and cobalt miner Ambatovy has shut down a pipeline providing ore from its mine in the nation's east to a processing and refinery plant due to damage, its significant shareholder Sumitomo Corp. stated.

As Ambatovy continues to evaluate the effect on operations and. the timeline for healing, traders stated that the occurrence could. tighten up supplies in the cobalt market if the interruption goes on. for more than two months.

The reason for the damage to the slurry pipeline, which. occurred on Sept. 25, is being investigated, Sumitomo said in a. declaration on Monday, adding that no injuries were reported.

The Japanese trading house has actually been having a hard time to stabilise. production and enhance success at the Ambatovy project,. which released in 2005.

The project produced about 8,000 metric tons of nickel. during the April-June quarter, down from about 10,000 heaps a. year earlier, Sumitomo said in July. It expects yearly. production of 35,000 heaps for the year to March 31.

It did not divulge its cobalt production. According to. Darton Commodities, Ambatovy produced 3,390 tons of cobalt last. year.

Sumitomo owns a 54.2% stake in the project business -. Ambatovy Minerals, a mining business, and Dynatec Madagascar, a. refining company - while the staying stake is held by Korea. Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources.

The Ambatovy nickel job companies filed a financial obligation. reorganizing strategy with a court in London in August. Sumitomo. Corp said at that time that the filing was part of their effort. to guarantee the steady and efficient operation of the task, not. a liquidation procedure.

(source: Reuters)