Reuters reported that Cuba has closed the oldest of three nickel plants in the country, a local Communist Party leader said, a looming event that had become the talk of the mountain town of Nicaro, in eastern Holguin, where it is located.
Nickel is Cuba's most important export and one of its top foreign exchange earners after technical services and tourism. Mr Jorge Cuevas Ramos, First Secretary of the Holguin Communist Party said in an interview that "This plant's productive role is completed and now it will dedicate its efforts to services.”
The report said that "After the closing of the René Ramos Latourt plant, its director said only the mineral transportation system would be maintained so it is ready to be transferred to Moa or for a foreign company that might be interested in investing in the area.”
The Cuban nickel industry is cloaked in secrecy. National media and officials have yet to mention the plant's closure after operating for around 70 years.
Cuba produced 69,700 tonnes of unrefined nickel plus cobalt in 2010, the last official figures available.
Source:
http://www.steelguru.com/stainless_steel_news/Cuba_closes_oldest_nickel_processing_plant/296888.html
