Mining and processing have concluded at IGO’s Nova nickel operation in the Fraser Range of Western Australia, almost a decade after production began. Following final reconciliation, Nova finished above the top end of its life of mine guidance for nickel, copper and cobalt, with nickel production of 21,340 tonnes coming in 7 percent above the top end of guidance.
Nova was a high quality, low cost underground operation and one of the few Australian mines to trial battery electric equipment at scale, including a Normet battery powered emulsion charger and a Sandvik battery electric production drill run by contractor Barminco. Barminco, which established the underground mine in 2015 and trucked the last ore to surface, completed more than 52 kilometres of development and mined more than 14.5 million tonnes of ore over 11 years. The site team is now demobilising.
IGO managing director Ivan Vella said the mine had finished as strongly as it started, delivering its final result in the closing stages of a mine’s life, when operations are often at their hardest.
The closure is a planned end of life, not a price driven suspension, and the asset is being sold rather than mothballed. IGO expects to complete the divestment of Nova to Global Lithium Resources in the coming weeks under a binding agreement signed in July 2026 worth A$7 million in total, made up of A$3 million in cash, A$2 million in Global Lithium shares and A$2 million in deferred cash payable 12 months after completion. Global Lithium intends to repurpose Nova’s processing plant and infrastructure for its Manna lithium project.