MARKETS-METALS/RESTARTS =2 June 9

Feb 26 - Oz Minerals Ltd (OZL.AX) said it had started copper and gold production at its newly-developed Prominent Hill mine in Australia. The company said full capacity of 120,000 tpy of copper in concentrates was still expected to be reached by end-year. [ID:nSYU006106]

Feb 19 - Zambia's Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) said it had shut its 150,000 tpy Nkana copper smelter after the company started to rely on the new 300,000 tpy Nchanga smelter. Plant shut between early April and early May after fire damage. [ID:nL71022040]

Jan 29 - Quadra Mining (QUA.TO) keeps its 2009 target for its Carlota solvent extraction electro-winning (SX-EW) copper project unchanged at 50 million lbs of cathode. Plant came on stream late December.

Dec 5 - Equinox Minerals (EQN.TO) said its Lumwana copper mine began preliminary copper concentrate production. In March the company said mine was ramping up on pace and expected to produce 170,000 tonnes of copper this year.

NICKEL

May 21 - When announcing a downwards revision to its capital expenditure budget, Brazil's Vale (VALE5.SA) said its Goro nickel project in New Caledonia was due to be concluded in H2. While later than the previous Q2 target, it was still due on stream this year after earlier revisions. But the company has also said the start date could change depending on market conditions.

May 15 - The $1.7 billion Ramu nickel project in Papua New Guinea remains on schedule to start in late 2009, said Highlands Pacific Ltd (HIG.AX), which owns an 8.56 percent stake in the mine. [ID:nSYD258731]

May 11 - First production of nickel from Australia's Lounge Lizard deposit will start in three months, owner Kagara Ltd (KZL.AX) said. Initial production will total around 3,000 tonnes of contained nickel a year. [ID:nSYD197507]

April 8 - Mirabela Nickel (MNB.TO) said its 18,500 tpy Santa Rita nickel mine in Brazil remains on track to commence production in mid-2009. Capacity is to rise to 27,000 tpy by mid-2010.