What industries are using ferronickel?

 Mainly stainless steel producing industries. Ferronickel is sent directly to stainless steel processing plants or to those that require input for other alloys and applications.

What type of mining will CGN use to extract nickel?

 The form of extraction that will be used is the so-called surface mining, particularly the one that at the end of the removal of the land enables forest restoration. This type of mining does not dig tunnels and does not use explosives; it is removed from the earth’s surface and the mineral is extracted. To process the nickel, it will use a technique called pyrometallurgical process that does not use chemicals and is based on heat. 

What is the amount of nickel ore that is extracted?

An average of 1.8% in saprolite. Of this percentage, 95% is recovered in the mine and of this last percentage 89.5% is recovered in the processing plant. 

Is the extraction of the mineral in Guatemala a benefit to the company, the people or the Government of Guatemala?

Benefits are expected for all. The mining project will stimulate the development of nearby communities and throughout the Izabal basin and consequently the whole population. The company also created the Foundation Raxche’ working in parallel with CGN in community development projects in the area.

Does the practice of mining bring harm to the environment and health of workers?

The CGN plan is to operate with minimal impact on the environment and people around the region. Programs have been designed to identify risks and minimize them, taking into account not only what is required by existing laws of the country but the international mining practices. In addition, we have developed environmental monitoring programs and operational performance.

What environmental studies have been done by the company?

The environmental baseline study yielded information on the general condition of the environment in the area. There where carried out, Environmental Impact Studies for the mine and for updating and amplification in the process plant.

Will CGN use water of the lake and in what quantities?

Yes there will be consumption of water of Lake Izabal. However, this will go through a recycling system that reduces the amount to a minimum. Every hour, about 390.000 cubic meters of water enter the lake. CGN will consume between 350 to 800 cubic meters of water per hour, less than 0.2% of what enters the lake. The lake contains approximately 23,520,000,000 cubic meters of water, so that if there was no rain for 1,000 years, the lake would not be affected by the water consumption of CGN.

Why is it good to invest in mining in Guatemala?

CGN will invest in the country; Guatemala has a large nickel deposit, rich in mineral concentration. Not all countries in the world own this amount of resources. For Guatemala, this investment means an increase in money supply of over Q70 million per year, without taking into account taxes and royalties that this project will generate for the State.