FACTBOX-Mines and plants hit by low prices, high costs

May 6 (Reuters) - The global financial crisis and sharp falls in metals prices have forced several companies to abandon or put on hold their plans to bring new mines onstream. Some existing producers also have shut down or curtailed output at mines and plants as high costs and low prices bite. Below are details of major projects and facilities affected in recent months, as well as other related news. May 5 - Suriname Aluminium Company LLD (Suralco) said it would cut about 40 percent, or 870,000 tonnes per year (tpy) of production at its Paranam alumina refinery. Suralco is part of the Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals group. April 30 - Hydro Aluminium, the German unit of Norway's Norsk Hydro said it may stop production at its loss-making aluminium smelter at Neuss in Germany in June. April 30 - Eramet's said nickel output would continue to be adjusted in relation to the market surplus and low prices. Also said it would continue to limit capital expenditure. April 30 - Kazakhmys posted a 20 percent fall in Q1 copper cathode output from the previous quarter as part of stated move to cut output this year. Said it suspended output at sections of a fifth mine in addition to four mines previously announced. April 29 - Alcoa Inc said to cut aluminium production at Portland smelter in Australia by a further 38,000 tonnes to 305,000 tonnes per year. April 29 - Belgium's Nyrstar said its zinc output dropped by 30 percent in Q1 2009 from Q4 2008. It said it planned to transform cost structure across the company, resulting in over 50 million euros ($65.1 million) in cost savings per year from 2010. April 28 - Russia's Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant said it produced 36.7 percent less zinc and zinc-based alloy in Q1 2009 than in the same period last year. Production cuts part of company's cost-cutting measures. April 24 - Century Aluminum said it may cut its smelter output further. One official said it may soon decide to close another potline at its Hawesville, Kentucky smelter. April 24 - BHP Billiton said the viability of its Bayside aluminium smelter in South Africa was at risk following a sharp fall in demand for value-added products. April 23 - Mexico's mining chamber said it saw new investments in exploration and expansion projects in the country dropping by 25 percent this year from last year to $2.73 billion. April 23 - Southern Copper said it had further trimmed its 2009 capital and exploration budget to $328 million from $415.3 million. April 22 - Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc said its spending plans continue to be reviewed and may be revised based on market conditions. April 22 - BHP Billiton said output from its Escondida copper mine in Chile will fall by 30 percent this fiscal year. Said all its operations would remain under review. April 22 - Indonesian state-owned miner, PT Aneka Tambang Tbk, said its first-quarter ferro-nickel output fell 24 percent from a year ago on slowing demand. April 22 - Indonesian tin production may not reach 90,000 tonnes this year as production adjusts to slowing demand, a director general at the country's energy ministry said. He said Indonesia had initially planned to limit output to 105,000 tonnes. April 21 - China's Yunnan Copper Co Ltd said its production in the first quarter fell 34 percent from a year earlier due to the global financial crisis. April 21 - Russia's United Company RUSAL said it is halfway towards its goal of cutting costs by $1.1 billion in 2009 after reducing them by $554 million in the first quarter. Aluminium production fell 7.2 percent year-on-year in the first quarter. Plans to cut 2009 output by 500,000 tonnes. April 21 - Noranda Income Fund said May output of zinc and sulphuric acid will be reduced by about 20 percent. April 17 - FNX Mining said it is considering suspending its remaining production in Sudbury, Ontario due to Vale Inco's decision to temporarily shut down its operations there. April 16 - Vale said it would delay the start-up of its Onca Puma nickel project in Brazil by at least one year. Previously expected to come on line in January 2010. Company also said it will shut its Sudbury nickel mines and processing plants in Ontario, Canada for eight weeks from June 1. April 14 - Indonesia's PT Timah Tbk said it expected to cut its refined tin output by as much as 8 percent this year. April 13 - Anvil Mining said budgeted capital expenditure for 2009 has been cut to the minimum necessary to sustain the operation of the Kinsevere HMS plant. April 10 - Zambia's Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM) will delay to June a resumption in its operations after some creditors refused to accept only half of the money they are owned by the mine owners, a government minister said. April 9 - Russia's UC RUSAL said it will cut output at its Novokuznetsk smelter from mid-April by a third from 317,000 tonnes produced in 2008. April 9 - Xstrata Plc said it plans to suspend operations at its Sinclair nickel mine in Australia in August if metals prices do not rebound. April 9 - Vedanta said it shut down a part of the BALCO Plant I smelter in India in Q4 due to higher operational costs. April 8 - Greece's Larco said it will cut nickel in ferro-nickel output to between 10,000-12,000 tonnes this year from about 18,500 last year. April 7 - Alcoa expects its Q2 alumina output to decline slightly to match smelter demand. Company projects weak global demand and expects another 1.4 million tonnes of primary aluminium output cuts in coming months. April 7 - Rio Tinto said it will cut bauxite production at its Weipa mine in northeastern Australia by about 23 percent. Also said it would also slow the expansion of the Yarwun alumina refinery in Queensland. April 7 - Tajikistan cut aluminium output by 16.8 percent year-on-year in Q1 2009, a source at state-owned TALCO aluminium company said. Tajikistan has said it plans to produce 377,000 tonnes this year, down from 399,450 tonnes in 2008. April 2 - Alcoa Inc said it would curtail about 120,000 tonnes per year (tpy) of aluminium smelter output at its Massena, New York operations in May, raising total cuts to the firm's production to over 850,000 tonnes, or 20 percent of annualised output. April 2 - Most of Japan's refined lead and zinc producers plan to reduce output in the first half of the year to end-March 2010. April 1 - Bosnia's sole alumina plant Birac said its 2009 output would fall almost two thirds to 120,000 tonnes of alumina because of the economic crisis. April 1 - Montenegro's loss-making KAP aluminium smelter will temporarily suspend 20 percent of its workforce. April 1 - Jamaica-based West Indies Alumina Co, whose majority shareholder is Russia's United Company RUSAL, has suspended bauxite mining as part of a plan to temporarily shutter the company's operations. April 1 - United Company RUSAL and Russian hydro-electricity giant RusHydro said they had agreed to postpone launching the Boguchany aluminium smelter project for two years to 2012. But on April 16 UC RUSAL proposed reversing earlier decisions to postpone the Boguchany and Taishet smelter projects to provide and outlet for a major hydro power station. April 1 - Japan's copper smelters plan to keep output either flat or lower in the first half of the business year. March 31 - Glencore said it has suspended operations at its Iscaycruz lead-zinc mine in Peru. March 29 - Two Chinese aluminium producers, Shengxin Aluminium and Shanghai Unison Aluminium, have halved their output, executives said. March 27 - Sweden's Boliden said it was maintaining cutbacks announced in late January. At that time the company said it would reduce output by about 68,000 tonnes on an annualised basis in the first quarter of 2009. March 26 - Norway's Norsk Hydro said it will cut metal output at its Sunndal smelter in Norway by 100,000 tonnes, bringing total curtailments to half a million tonnes. March 26 - Metallica Minerals has deferred feasibility work indefinitely on its 8,000 tonnes per year (tpy) Nornico mine project in Queensland, Australia. March 26 - A $500 million nickel pig iron project planned for Indonesia has been scrapped, said Shanghai Tshingshan Mineral Company Ltd, the majority partner in the venture. March 26 - Doe Run Peru has halted work at 95 percent of its La Oroya poly-metallic smelter because of financial trouble. On April 2 company said it would restart work as soon as possible afer reaching a new credit deal. March 25 - Russia's UC RUSAL may widen output cuts to up to 20 percent and is taking steps to cut costs as it faces peak debt repayment of $8 billion this year, the firm and analysts said. March 25 - UC RUSAL said it will halve aluminium output at its loss-making ZALK unit in Ukraine this year due to high energy costs, as part of plans to slash 11 percent of total annual output. Alumina output will also be cut. March 25 - Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation said would maintain output cuts since a recovery unlikely until 2010. Company also said it has cut its long-term capex expansion programme to $2.4 billion from $6.9 billion. March 23 - Yamana Gold's Argentinian unit, which has been working on the Agua Rica copper-gold project, last week said it would temporarily slow work on the project. Mine close to final approval, but company undecided on how will proceed with plans for the property. March 23 - India's state-run National Aluminium Co plans to lower output if inventory levels keep rising, the Business Standard newspaper reported. March 20 - U.S. copper miner Asarco LLC shut its rod and cake plants in Amarillo, Texas and is planning periodic slowdowns at the copper refinery beginning March 22. March 20 - South African ferrochrome producer Hernic said it shut all its four furnaces at the start of this year. March 20 - Geovic Mining Corp. said it will slash costs, reduce in scale and delay by at least a year its Nkamouna cobalt-nickel-manganese project in Cameroon. March 19 - European Goldfields said further ramp up of output at its Stratoni lead-zinc mine in Greece would be delayed. March 19 - Uranium miner Denison Mines will temporarily suspend production at its Sunday and Rim mines in the western United States and will likely shut its White Mesa mill in May. March 19 - Norsk Hydro affiliate Alumina Partners of Jamaica (Alpart) said it plans to shut its 1.65 million tonnes a year alumina refinery for a year from May 15. March 18 - Timminco Ltd said it would suspend production of silicon metal from April. March 12 - Kosovo's sole ferro-nickel producer Ferronikeli has cut its output by half. Producing 330 tonnes per month compared with about 700 tonnes earlier. March 11 - Russia's Ufaleynickel said it had shut down a furnace and could halt output altogether if demand remained poor. Only two out of plant's five furnaces are working. March 9 - Kazakh mining group Eurasian Natural Resources Corp Plc (ENRC) will review its production cuts in the second quarter, an official told the Reuters Global Mining and Steel Summit. Late last year it cut ferrochrome output by about 35 percent and iron ore output by 50 percent. March 6 - Glencore International Ag has notified Zambian authorities it plans to halt operations at the Mufulira copper mine and put Nkana mine under maintenance, the country's mines minister said. But on April 29 Mopani Copper Mines said to continue mining operations. March 5 - Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro announced a further cut of 250-300 jobs aimed at saving $99.1-113.3 million. About 40 percent of savings expected to come from external services and consultants. March 4 - Alcoa Inc said it plans to chop payroll costs by 15 percent at its Canadian aluminium smelting operations. March 4 - Finnish mining firm Talvivaara said it would defer all capital expenditure not needed to achieve budgeted production until 2010. It produces nickel and zinc. March 4 - Japan's top copper smelter Pan Pacific Copper Co Ltd said it will continue to cut copper output by 10 percent for the full business year starting in April. March 3 - Century Aluminum of Kentucky, a subsidiary of Century Aluminum said it curtailed one potline at its Hawesville, Kentucky primary aluminium smelter, effectively cutting about 4,370 tonnes in monthly output. March 3 - Cuba may soon cut its nickel output, sources close to the industry said. Unrefined nickel and cobalt production at two state-run processing plants are under review due to their inefficiencies. March 3 - Vale Inco said it will eliminate about 900 full-time jobs, with close to half of the cuts at its Canadian operations. Will be focused on business support rather than key mining and processing areas. March 3 - Albidon Ltd said it has suspended operations at its Munali nickel project in Zambia. At full capacity the mine, which came on stream last May, was expected to produce 10,000 tonnes per year (tpy) of nickel. March 2 - Indonesia's PT Aneka Tambang Tbk plans to produce 12,000 tonnes of ferro-nickel in 2009, down about 32 percent from a year ago. Feb 26 - Australia's mining sector invested a record amount last quarter, but analysts expect a significant downturn in the next few quarters. Feb 25 - Sherritt International raised the cost estimate for its Ambatovy nickel project in Madagascar by more than $1 billion. Feb 24 - Lonmin Plc, the world's third-biggest platinum producer, said to put under care and maintenance the Baobab shaft at its Limpopo mine in South Africa. Said had reached an agreement with unions on up to 5,500 job cuts at Marikana and Limpopo operations. Feb 23 - Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, which has already cut back production, said it might have to make more cuts if copper prices drop further. Feb 23 - Noranda Income Fund said to reduce zinc and by-product sulphuric acid production by about 20 percent in March. Feb 20 - A shareholder of Kazakh mining and metals group ENRC said some of its units had more than halved output. Company produces iron ore, ferro-alloys, alumina, aluminium, chrome and other metals. Feb 19 - Eramet said has slashed 2009 capital spending target by 54 percent. Has suspended production of high-purity chrome at its Marietta plant in United States. Also planning restructuring measures at SLN nickel unit in New Caledonia. Reiterated targets to reduce nickel and manganese output in coming months. Feb 19 - Impala Platinum said cutting output by 200,000 ounces in its current financial year and would put off expansion plans. Feb 19 - Pan American Silver said will suspend operations at Quiruvilca mine in Peru, due to high costs and declining silver production. Feb 19 - Mozambique's Mozal aluminium smelter will have to cut staff due to the economic slowdown, BHP Billiton said. Feb 18 - Vimetco said it cut output by a further 50,000 tonnes per year (tpy) from January at its Chinese aluminium operations. Feb 18 - Thompson Creek Metals Co Inc said expansion project at Endako molybdenum mine suspended. Also details planned production adjustments at Endako and Thompson Creek mines. Feb 18 - Redcorp Ventures Ltd. said construction activities at Tulsequah Chief polymetallic mine will remain suspended until further notice. Feb 16 - Norilsk Nickel says suspending production at Black Swan and Lake Johnston nickel mines with immediate effect. Feb 13 - First Quantum Minerals Ltd says to slash 2009 planned capital expenditure by more than half. Feb 12 - The Philippines' Berong Nickel Corp said it has temporarily stopped nickel production. Feb 11 - Norsk Hydro has decided to begin the shutdown of its Neuss primary aluminium smelter in Germany. The company had already cut output at the plant. Feb 10 - Germany's Trimet Aluminium AG said had cut aluminium output by about 30 percent. Cuts spread equally between its 130,000 tonnes per year (tpy) Hamburg smelter and its 170,000 tpy Essen plant. Feb 11 - Norsk Hydro said it reducing its aluminium production by another 25 percent at its Soeral smelter in Norway, effective March 1. Feb 9 - Xstrata Plc shelves plans to expand production of rhenium at a project in northern Chile. Feb 9 - Plans to boost output at the Madneuli Ore Enrichment Plant in Georgia by 35-40 percent this year no longer look realistic because investment plans are on hold, a company official said. COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.