Mallee Resources Limited, which owns and operates the Avebury nickel mine, appointed receivers earlier this month after it ran into production problems during its ramp up and as nickel prices fell. It was unable to secure alternative funding as debts to commodity trader Hartree Partners became due in July and August. The mine in the western part of the Australian state of Tasmania continues to operate as normal, KordaMentha partner Scott Langdon told Reuters.

?We are going to run a sales process to kick off very shortly and we are hoping to have it concluded by Christmas,? he said, adding that as part of the sales process, current supply agreements may be renegotiated. Mallee Resources' largest shareholder, Hartree Partners.

It has exclusive rights to market the mine's nickel. ?Hartree continues to support the Avebury operation and market the concentrate produced during this process,? Hartree said in an emailed response to Reuters.