FACTBOX-Restarts of idled mines and metal plants

Nov 10 (Reuters) - Encouraged by higher prices, some metal producers have started to reverse earlier cutbacks and project delays, prompted around mid-2008 by plunging demand.

But for metals such as aluminium and nickel, where more cuts are still needed, such moves come on top of on-schedule start-ups of new operations and threaten to keep the market in surplus for longer than most.

Some analysts are also concerned that more zinc producers, who were fast to curtail output as demand slumped, might rush to reopen at current prices.

Below are details of restarts of capacity previously idled by low prices and poor demand.

Nov 9 - Breakwater Resources (BWR.TO) said it considering reopening its Langlois zinc mine in Quebec. [ID:nN06248946]

Nov 7 - Zambia's largest cobalt producer, Chambishi Metals Plc has restarted production. Operations suspended last December. [ID:nL7702317]

Nov 3 - China's Shanxi Guanlu (000831.SZ) said it had restarted a 40,000 tonnes per year (tpy) aluminium production line as the market improves. [ID:nSHA303821]

Oct 30 - Canada's HudBay Minerals Inc (HBM.TO) said it will restart its Chisel North mine and concentrator in Manitoba with immediate effect and expects full production from the operations by the second quarter. [ID:nBNG474359]

Oct 16 - Timminco Ltd (TIM.TO) said it will increase silicon metal production at its Becancour plant, the final stage of its return to full capacity after output was curtailed in April. [ID:nN16346498]

Oct 15 - Indonesia's state-owned miner PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTM.JK) forecast its nickel output would jump 42 percent next year after restarting its third ferronickel smelter. [ID:nJAK431671]