The concentrate was sent from the mine, in Western Australia’s Fraser Range, to BHP Billiton Nickel West’s Kambalda facilities, as per a three-year offtake agreement.

Nickel West has the right to 50% of concentrate, while Glencore will take the other 50%, which will be shipped via Esperance.

Trafigura will take the copper concentrate.

IGO expects the first offshore shipments to occur in the June 2017 quarter.

IGO managing director and CEO Peter Bradford said the first shipment was another important milestone, that had occurred ahead of the original project schedule.

The processing plant continues to ramp up, with no material issues identified.

The company expects the plant to reach 1.5 million tonnes per annum throughput by mid-2017.

Underground contractor Barminco had achieved development of around 9.7km at the end of November.

Raise boring of the return air raise was completed ahead of schedule and will allow Barminco to ramp-up the development rate.

Mining of the thicker parts of the Nova-Bollinger orebodies is expected from mid-2017.

Swick Mining Services has started resource extension drilling at Conductor Five, which sits above the Nova-Bollinger orebodies.

IGO expects a maiden resource for Conductor Five by the end of the March quarter.

The company will host media at the site on Wednesday.

 

Shares in IGO fell by 1.5c to $4.275.