Overview Latin America is a major producer of nickel and cobalt, in particular the Central American countries of Cuba, Dominican Republic and Colombia.
Brazil is also a producer, with most of production in the form of ferronickel alloy products.
Brazil produced 400 t of cobalt in 1998. Rio Tinto's Fortaleza mine in Brazil reached full production in late 1999. Production in the form nickel matte will be processed under agreement with Outokumpu. Anglo American's interest in Codemin has provided access to Codemin's projects in Brazil, including the development of the Barro Alto deposit. Anglo American also has an interest in the Loma de Niquel project in Venezuela .