2004 was a year of achievement for Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company Limited. We met all of our engineering and construction goals at the mine and concentrator and hydromet demonstration plant construction sites. But most importantly we worked safely and responsibly throughout the year. Our vision is to become the world’s leading nickel producer, while caring for the environment and our people. Achieving this vision means developing the project in a way that minimizes its environmental impact and ensures the safety of all employees and contractors. It also means investing and partnering in the communities in which we operate by providing employment and business opportunities, philanthropic contributions and sponsorships.

This report, our second annual social responsibility report, is intended to keep you, our stakeholders, informed of the progress we are making in developing the Voisey’s Bay project. It outlines the benefits the project is bringing to Newfoundland and Labrador as a result of the significant capital expenditures during the construction phase of the project, investments we are making in training programs to prepare our permanent workforce, employment and procurement expenditures, taxation and royalty payments to governments, and contributions to community-based initiatives in the province.

In all of our activities, we worked in partnership with many community groups, aboriginal groups and all levels government throughout the year to achieve our mutual goals. We believe that working together we can help with the development of communities that have the capacity and the capability to sustain themselves well beyond the life of this project. I invite you to read through this report and to learn more about our contribution to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2004.

Phil du Toit
Managing Director