First Quantum Minerals is a global mining and metals processing company, producing copper and nickel from operations in Africa, Latin America, Europe and here in Australia.
Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation (RNO) is First Quantum Minerals Australian flagship operation and processes nickel laterite ore extracted through open-cut mining. We use a high-pressure acid leaching process that results in a mixed hydroxide product for export. We recover the waste heat from this process to produce steam via three 18MW steam turbines, for the generation of power and to provide heat for the leaching process.
Our major ore body is known as Shoemaker-Levy and gives us a mine life of approximately 20 years. The orebody is located 12km away from the processing plant, and the two are connected by an overland conveyor that runs over a major highway.
Our product contains about 40 per cent nickel and 1.4 per cent cobalt on a dry basis. We export our nickel concentrate and the cobalt by-product in containers to international customers via our export facility at Esperance Port. All of nickel concentrate is ultimately used in products that will contribute to a greener global economy, such as electric vehicle batteries.
In 2024 we implemented a new operating model which represents a three-year plan under which RNO will maintain production of nickel concentrate expecting to produce on average approximately 16,000 contained tonnes per annum.
You can keep up to date with operational progress on our global website here.
We make a major contribution to the WA economy.
Our Ravensthorpe site is a world-class laterite nickel mining and processing operation located in southern Western Australia
