France-based metals producer Eramet recorded growth in metal production in most of its mines excepting its ferronickel mine in New Caledonia.

Manganese ore production increased by 27% to 2 million tonnes in the third quarter, thanks to the mine expansion program in Gabon. Eramet is aiming for 7 Mt produced in 2021.

Nickel production also increased, with Weda Bay Nickel in Indonesia producing nearly 4 million wet metric tons in the third quarter

The mine production target at Weda Bay has now been revised to approximately 14Mwmt.

Eramet continued to experience downturns in New Caledonia, which has been particularly hard hit by the COVID crisis. Production at the SLN mine amounted to 1.7% Mwmt in the third quarter, up by 5%, but ferronickel production declined by 19% to 10,000 tonnes.

High energy prices have also contributed to the decline in production, Eramet said. The SLN mine is still waiting for authorisation from government authorities in New Caledonia for access to competitively priced energy, as well as authorisation to export non-recoverable ore locally to 6 Mwmt per year, with a demand obtained for an additional 2 Mwmt.

Yearly projections have been revised down for SLN to produce more than 3 Mwmt in 2021. Ferronickel production is anticipated to be 40kt this year.

However, the Sandouville plant in New Caledonia, which processes nickel plant, saw a production increase of 51% this quarter, producing 2.4kt. Sandoumille is in the midst of being sold to Sibanye-Stillwater.

Production of mineral sands in Senegal increased 11% year-on-year in the third quarter, with 204 kt produced. Zircon production increased 22% to 17 kt. Eramet signed an agreement to build and operate a hybrid solar power station that will power some of the mine operations in Senegal. The power station also has energy storage batteries.

Eramet's Norwegian production of titanium slag declined by 1% year-on-year to 52kt.