BHP Billiton has announced its Ravensthorpe nickel mine in Western Australia will take two years before it reaches full capacity, following a year of serious delays and $1 billion in cost overruns.
The project, one of the largest nickel-making facilities in the world, started production in 2007 is about nine months behind schedule.
Speaking to Reuters in Australia BHP's president of stainless steel materials, Jimmy Wilson said the project was currently operating at about 35 percent of full capacity.
He added that output would rise steadily over the next year and a half, reaching full capacity of 50,000 tonnes a year in the second half of the financial year ending June 30, 2010.
Ravensthorpe has faced spiralling materials and labour costs over its four-year development phase.
By staff writer
