In a prefeasibility study (PFS), Horizonte Minerals has announced that the companys Vermelho project will generate USD $7.3 billion in total cash flow throughout the next 38 years, and a USD $1.7-billion after-tax net present value (NPV) at an 8% discount rate, and a 26% rate of return (IRR) at a USD $16,400-per-ton, base-case nickel price.
The PFS puts initial capex at USD $625 million, and has projected that Vermelho will produce an average of 25,000 tons of nickel and 1,250 tons of cobalt per year using a high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) process.
Throughout the nearly four-decade mine life, Vermelho would produce 924,000 tons of nickel contained in nickel sulphate, 36,000 tons of cobalt contained in cobalt sulphate, and 4.5 million tons of kieserite.
The project will use a hydro-metallurgical process consisting of a beneficiation plant, where the mineralized material would be upgraded before being fed to a HPAL and refining plant, which will produce the sulphates.
Image courtesy of Horizonte Minerals