In 2004 Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company Limited (VBNC) made significant progress in developing the Voisey’s Bay project. Over the course of the year, we advanced the construction phase of the project to such an extent that we were able to move the project’s operational startup ahead by about six months. This is a major accomplishment that VBNC’s Managing Director Phil du Toit says is largely due to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the project.

"We've had great productivity from our workforce in Labrador and on the Island. We made a major effort to get equipment and materials to site in late 2003 before winter moved in and as a result we were able to get our 2004 construction campaign going sooner in Labrador than originally planned,” says du Toit. “We were also able to make great strides on our Hydrometallurgical Technology Research and Development (R&D) program.”

The mini-pilot plant finished its ninth and final integrated campaign in October 2004. The completion of the mini-plant program marked a significant milestone for the R&D program, which began in October 2003. We were able to use the information gathered from the mini-pilot plant to finalize the process engineering, design, and major equipment procurement for the hydromet demonstration plant which allowed construction to begin at Argentia in May.

Our accomplishments in 2004 are a testament to the efforts and hard work of the more than 3,200 people who were working on all facets of the project during the year. Our achievement also reflects our successful partnerships with the aboriginal peoples of Labrador as well as the government and people of Newfoundland and Labrador in areas including research and development, employment and training and environmental stewardship. Contract and procurement awards on the project in 2004 total more than $348 million, bringing our total contract and procurement awards on the project to date to more than $800 million, of which 83% was awarded to Newfoundland and Labrador companies.