Located in the far north region of Québec, Xstrata Nickel’s Raglan property consists of a series of high-grade ore deposits, with nickel and copper as the primary metals. The operation consists of underground mines, a concentrator, a power plant, accommodation and administration buildings, fresh water supply and fuel storage tanks. The mine site is linked by all-weather roads to an airstrip at Donaldson and to the concentrate, storage and ship-loading facilities at Deception Bay. The property stretches 70 kilometers from east to west, with a series of high-grade ore deposits scattered along its length. Significant quantities of palladium and platinum as well as cobalt are also produced.
We have four underground mines currently in operation: Katinniq, Mine 2, and Mine 3, and Kikialik. Our expansion is key to the area and is rapidly underway, including a $530 million investment to construct Qakimajurq Mine and extend the depth of Mine 2.
The ore we gather from Raglan mines is crushed, ground and treated on site to produce a nickel-copper concentrate. Our team trucks the concentrate100 kilometers to Deception Bay where it is transported to Sudbury. After smelting in Sudbury, the smelted matte material is shipped to Xstrata Nickel’s Norwegian refinery to be processed into pure metals.