Four killed as bridge collapses at Cuba nickel mine

Four workers were killed when a bridge collapsed at Sherritt International's Moa nickel mine in Cuba, the Toronto-based company said in a statement.

The employees were repairing the bridge which was damaged in Hurricane Matthew in October, CEO David Pathe said.

The bridge provides the main access from the town and port of Moa to the mine site and leach facility, and is also used by local residents.

An investigation into the cause of the collapse is under way. The plant is operating at reduced rates and other access options are being assessed, the company said.

The impact on production will depend on how quickly alternative access routes can be upgraded, Sherritt added.

Moa is a 50:50 JV between Sherritt and Cuba's General Nickel Company, and produces nickel and cobalt products in Cuba and Alberta, Canada.

Production guidance for 2016 is currently 33,500-34,500t nickel and 3,300-3,800t cobalt. Output attributable to Sherritt was 4,295t nickel and 489t cobalt in Q3.

The company also has mining operations in Madagascar and oil and electricity operations in Cuba.