Output Down at BHP’s Cerro Matoso Ferronickel Plant After Damage

Reuters reported that BHP Billiton Ltd. (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BLT) shut an oven at its Colombia-based Cerro Matoso ferronickel plant after equipment there was damaged. Output has been cut by three-quarters.

As quoted in the market news:

Damage to a crane stopped production of one of two ovens at the world’s sixth-largest ferronickel producer on Thursday afternoon, union leader Domingo Hernandez said.

The second oven on site is producing at half its capacity, he said. It was not initially clear whether that was linked to Thursday’s incident.

Domingo Hernandez, union leader, told the news outlet:

The cables that suspend the container [from the crane]broke, which caused damage to the equipment and as they can’t feed the oven without the crane, the oven is out of operation.

Click here to read the full Reuters report.