http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...

"Even a slowdown of operations would be a blow for BHP, confirming that laterite nickel operations are fraught with problems.

The technical challenges of treating this type of ore have already destroyed two Australian miners and nearly finished a third, the former Anaconda Nickel.

Russia's Norilsk Nickel closed its Cawse laterite mine in Australia last year and there is no sign of it reopening.

Anaconda's successor, Minara Resources, deferred expansion at Murrin Murrin."

John that's a sobering article indeed.