Finland-based nickel and zinc miner Talvivaara Mining Company Plc announced on January 16 that it has achieved its production target for 2012, with its full year production totaling 12,916 mt of nickel, in line with the company's most recent guidance of approximately 13,000 mt, as updated on November 28, 2012 following a gypsum pond leakage. However, Talvivaara's nickel output fell by 19.7 percent in 2012 compared to 2011.
Additionally, Talvivaara produced 2,317 mt of nickel in the fourth quarter of 2012, decreasing 51.4 percent year on year, impacted by the gypsum pond leakage in November and the continuing challenging water balance situation throughout the fourth quarter.
Talvivaara said that the greater than 50,000 mt of nickel currently in its heaps will provide a sufficient inventory for a reasonable increase in metals production in 2013 despite the temporary suspension of ore production in effect since September 2012. Talvivaara's ore production has been suspended since September last year due to the prevailing water balance situation. The company anticipates recommencing mining of new ore by the end of June 2013 once the main part of the Kuusilampi open pit has been de-watered.