Finland-based nickel and zinc miner Talvivaara Mining Company Plc announced on April 19 that its nickel production decreased about 20 percent compared to the same period of last year, amounting to 3,374 mt in the first quarter of the current year. The company said that its production was adversely impacted by downtime at the metals recovery plant, resulting from environmental investments and unscheduled occupational safety-related improvements.
Additionally, Talvivaara's first quarter production volumes and the negative nickel price development during the period also had an adverse impact on Talvivaara's financial results. However, the company noted that underlying development in its operations has continued positively, regardless of the short-term shortage in metals recovery output.
Talvivaara said in announcement that it maintains its full-year 2012 production guidance at 25,000-30,000 mt of nickel. However, following the first quarter production volumes, it has less flexibility within the guidance range and expects full-year production to be closer to the lower end of the range.