Ann: Mining Lease Granted for Isabel Nickel Project - San Jorge, page-227

High-grade nickel find for Axiom

AXIOM Mining has found high-grade nickel on its San Jorge tenement in the Solomon Islands as it keenly awaits approval needed to start mining.

• Staff Reporter
• 26 April 2017

Related ContentTopics (Select for more information):The company said that nickel grading between 2% and 3.58% was consistently recorded from rock chip sampling on the key San Jorge tenement within Axiom's Isabel project.

Axiom is aiming to develop a direct shipping ore operation whereby ore will be mined and sold directly to nickel processing operators such as, for example, electric arc furnaces in China that produce nickel pig iron.

The opportunity has arisen because of moves in recent times by the Indonesian and Philippine governments to ban similar such ventures from their countries.

Axiom was previously hopeful of now being in production.

Speaking from the Solomon Islands, Axiom managing director Ryan Mount said recent discussions in-country meant the company was hopeful the required government and regulatory approvals would be received "shortly".

Axiom believes it will cost $A10-20 million reach an "aspirational" target of 2 million tonnes per annum, with first production expected three months after approvals are received and the full production run-rate achievable after 18 months.