ONE of Australia’s biggest nickel mines has been temporarily shut as its owner, First Quantum Minerals Ltd, investigates the cause of a processing-plant rupture that resulted in a chemical spill.

A “structural failure” occurred yesterday in the atmospheric leach tank at the Ravensthorpe operation in Western Australia, and the subsequent spill was contained in the plant’s bunded, or protected, area, a First Quantum spokesman said.

“All personnel have been accounted for and no injuries have been reported,” he said.

No adverse environmental effects are anticipated, the spokesman said.

“Investigations to determine the cause of the rupture are being undertaken with Government regulators,” he said.

The mine employs about 640 people.

First Quantum, based in Vancouver, Canada, ranks second behind BHP Billiton Ltd. in Australian production of nickel, a metal that is used mainly in the making of stainless steel.

First Quantum had forecast production this calendar year of 36,000 to 38,000 metric tons of nickel.

The company restarted Ravensthorpe in late 2011 after buying the operation from BHP, which had closed the mine two years earlier because of low prices and processing difficulties.

• [Editor:Juan]