MELBOURNE, March 7 (Reuters) - A company linked to Clive Palmer has taken management control of the Queensland Nickel refinery, and has secured a conditional loan of A$23 million ($17 million) of funding to support the business, administrators FTI Consulting said on Monday.
FTI Consulting said in a statement that it had received notice that a new joint venture unit, Queensland Nickel Sales, will replace Queensland Nickel Pty Ltd as the manager of operations at the Yabulu Refinery and associated port facilities with "immediate effect".
It also said it has been advised that Queensland Nickel Sales Pty Ltd has a conditional offer for approximately $23 million of funding to support the business operation of the refinery.
Queensland Nickel, which is owned by Palmer, went into volunary administration in January.
($1 = 1.3501 Australian dollars)