Recently, the nickel producer Sibanstillwater Sibanye-Stillwater announced the second quarter of 2023 report, the second quarter of 2023 enterprises produced 1884 metal tons of nickel, an increase of 17.09%%, a decrease of 35.46%, including electrolytic nickel 1525 tons, nickel chloride 359 metal tons. In the first half of 2023, the company produced 3493 metal tons of nickel, a decrease of 23.48%, including 2707 tons of electrolytic nickel and 788 tons of nickel chloride.
The previously reported cathode unit operating issues persisted in the first half of 2023 to the extent that they affected current production, and the related repair work was largely completed in the first half of 2023. By the end of the year, 50 of the 58 cathode units were in operation, with improvements in operational stability and nickel recovery. If this stability is maintained, operating performance is expected to improve further in the second half of 2023.
At the same time, production was also affected by shortages of key inputs such as carbonates and a nationwide strike, resulting in a cumulative shutdown of 50 days. The annual shutdown overhaul program is expected to take place in October 2023 and has been factored into the production estimates for the second half of 2023.
