Horizonte appoints Wagner Lucio Oliveira as feasibility study manager

Brazil-focused nickel development company Horizonte Minerals announced on Wednesday that it has appointed Wagner Lucio Oliveira to a non-board position as its feasibility study manager for its 100% owned Araguaia nickel project, which is being developed as the next major nickel project in Brazil.

The AIM-traded firm said Oliveira brings with him a “wealth” of nickel experience, having worked with Anglo American at its Barro Alto ferronickel mine in Brazil on its engineering, construction and start-up between 2007 to 2010.

It said he is skilled in a “wide range of technical areas” including smelter technology, refining, processing, performance management, plant operations, project management and capital cost rationalisation.

Additionally, Oliveira has built a “diverse skillset” from work undertaken with other major companies such as Rio Tinto, Vale and most recently McKinsey & Company in Chile and Peru.

Oliveira reportedly has significant experience in the controlled planning, scheduling and operational readiness of large-scale projects and a proven track record in delivering on operational improvement and cost reductions.

“We are delighted to welcome Oliveira to Horizonte as the feasibility manager to run the study on the Araguaia nickel project,” said Horizonte CEO Jeremy Martin.

“He will be key as we work through the selection process to award the contracts for the feasibility study henceforth, in managing the study to deliver it on time and budget.”

Martin said Oliveira has considerable experience in nickel having worked with Anglo American plc on its Barro Alto ferronickel operation and prior to this at the Codemin ferro nickel plant in Brazil.

“We welcome Oliveira to the team and believe his experience will be invaluable as we move into the next phase of project development.”