The Sudbury-based company will concentrate on its Wollaston copper project.

New Wood Mackenzie report expects a considerable amount of copper supply to be lost from unexpected disruption.

In the past year, it has been buffeted by global trade winds and hit by crossfire from demonstrations against a competitor in Peru.

To date, the company has identified five zones of mineralization.

Sample assays include 0.74% nickel, 4.09% copper and 2.51 g/t PGEs.

Weatherly, weighed by some $140 million in debt, is set to halt operations at its Tschudi mine.

Nornickel has been looking for a partner in the ambitious project for several years.