Vale recorded 13% lower output in Q1

By Ruli Setiawan

IDX-listed PT Vale Indonesia Tbk, a subsidiary of Vale, the world's second biggest mining company headquartered in Brazil, reported on Thursday that production of nickel in matte from its Indonesian Sorowako operations totaled 18,500 tons, or 13.1% lower than the previous quarter due to a three week furnace shutdown for maintenance in March.

"The furnace returned to normal operation, and production rates were stable by the end of the month," the company said in a statement.

"Given the production cycle, the losses of matte production caused by the maintenance stoppage will affect finished nickel output in 2Q13," it stated.

Editing by Er Audy Zandri