China Minmetals' Cuba nickel project exit sparks questions.(Nonferrous)

NEW YORK -- The Venezuelan government's takeover of China Minmetals Corp.'s 49-percent stake in the Camarioca nickel project in the Holguin region of Cuba has left many unanswered questions, trade sources said.

Foremost among them is whether the Chinese state-owned company left of its own accord because of problems dealing with the Cuban government or whether the socialist leaders of the two Latin American nations pulled the trigger.

State-owned Empresa Cubana Exportadora de Minerales y Metales (Cubaniquel) holds a 51-percent stake in the Camarioca project. The joint-venture agreement with Minmetals dates back to 2004.

Until recently, trade sources …