必和必拓将暂时关闭西澳大利亚镍矿业务
BHP to temporarily shut Western Australia Nickel operations
Kallanish（开阑商务信息咨询）Power Materials报道，澳大利亚矿业巨头必和必拓周四表示，将暂停其西澳大利亚镍矿业务，直至2027年2月，届时将进行新的审查。
Australian mining giant BHP said Thursday it will suspend its Western Australia Nickel operations until February 2027, when a new review is due,Kallanish Power Materials reports.
必和必拓于今年2月开始对西澳大利亚镍矿业务进行审查，以应对全球镍市场供过于求的局面。该矿商解释说：“未来五年的远期镍价大幅下跌，反映了替代性低成本镍供应的强劲增长。”
The long-awaited decision comes after BHP started areview of Western Australia Nickel in February, in response to the oversupply in the global nickel market. “Forward consensus nickel prices over the next half of the decade have fallen sharply reflecting strong growth of alternative low-cost nickel supply,” the miner explains.
过渡期将从本月开始。该矿商将从10月份开始暂停Nickel West的开采和加工业务，以及West Musgrave项目。
A transition period will start this month. The miner will suspend its Nickel West mining and processing operations, as well as the West Musgrave project from October.
尽管自2020年以来已投资30亿美元，但由于全球镍价低迷，必和必拓预计在截至2024年6月30日的财政年度，西澳大利亚镍矿业务的基本息税折旧摊销前利润（EBITDA）将亏损约3亿美元。
Despite investing $3 billion since 2020, BHP is expecting an underlying EBITDA loss of around $300 million for the Western Australia Nickel operations in the financial year to 30 June 2024 due to low global nickel prices.
必和必拓澳大利亚公司总裁Geraldine Slattery表示：“与澳大利亚镍行业的其他企业一样，我们也未能克服全球镍供应过剩所带来的巨大经济挑战。我们已经做出艰难但必要的决定，暂时中止Nickel West的运营和West Musgrave项目。”
“Like others in the Australian nickel sector, we have not been able to overcome the substantial economic challenges driven by a global oversupply of nickel,” says BHP’s president Australia, Geraldine Slattery. “We have made the difficult but necessary decision to temporarily suspend the Nickel West operation and West Musgrave project.”
Slattery表示，公司将继续每年向西澳大利亚镍矿资产投资约4.5亿澳元（3亿美元），以促进“潜在的重新启动”。这位高管强调西澳大利亚州是公司的“重要投资目的地”，并补充说，预计未来5年在该州的投资将超过120亿澳元。
Slattery notes the company will continue to invest around AUD 450 million ($300m) per year in the Western Australia Nickel assets to facilitate “a potential re-start.” Highlighting Western Australia as an “important investment destination” for the company, the executive adds investment in the state is expected to be over AUD 12 billion across the next 5 years.
必和必拓表示，将为西澳大利亚镍矿业务的所有一线员工提供公司内部的另一个职位。公司还将为其他员工寻找重新安排工作的机会。此外，还将设立一个2,000万澳元的社区基金，在暂时停工期间为当地社区和企业提供支持。
BHP says it will offer all Western Australia Nickel’s frontline employees another role within the company. It will also identify redeployment opportunities for other employees. Additionally, an AUD 20m Community Fund will be set up to support local communities and businesses during the temporary suspension.
印尼供应的大幅增加和电动汽车需求的下降导致去年镍价暴跌。澳大利亚至少有六家镍设施宣布减少运营或进入维护和保养阶段，促使澳大利亚政府在今年年初将镍列入该国的重要矿产清单。
A significant increase in Indonesian supply and a drop in EV demand saw nickel prices plunge in the past year. At least six nickel facilities in Australia have either announced a reduction in operations or entered care and maintenance, prompting the Australian government toinclude nickel in the country’s critical minerals list early this year.
澳大利亚政府的数据显示，从2022年初开始的18个月内，镍的平均价格超过2.5万美元/吨，目前为16,725美元/吨。
From an average price of over $25,000/tonne in the 18 months from the start of 2022, nickel price is now at $16,725/t, according to the Australian government.
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