SYDNEY, Jan 21 (Reuters) - BHP Billiton Ltd/Plc, the world's biggest mining house, will suspend its Ravensthorpe nickel mine in Australia indefinitely due to poor prospects for profitability.
It also said in a statement on Wednesday that it would reduce mining activity at its Mount Keith project in Australia but would maintain nickel concentrate output.
At the two sites, BHP would cut a total of 2,100 staff and contractor jobs.
For the second quarter, BHP's production of iron ore and oil rose, but output of aluminium fell.
BHP has set itself apart from other miners in not announcing any major production cuts, and said last month that sales volumes were holding up despite the global downturn.
Rival miner Rio Tinto Ltd last week reported an 18 percent decline in iron ore production for its fourth quarter and said earnings from its aluminium division would be hurt by falling prices, see:.
Investment bank UBS this week forecast BHP would report a 4.7 percent rise in iron ore output and a 50 percent jump in oil production in the second quarter, but a fall in copper and aluminium output.
(Reporting by James Regan) Keywords: BHPBILLITON/PRODUCTION (jim.regan@thomsonreuters.com; +61-2 9373-1814; Reuters Messaging: jim.regan@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
It also said in a statement on Wednesday that it would reduce mining activity at its Mount Keith project in Australia but would maintain nickel concentrate output.
At the two sites, BHP would cut a total of 2,100 staff and contractor jobs.
For the second quarter, BHP's production of iron ore and oil rose, but output of aluminium fell.
BHP has set itself apart from other miners in not announcing any major production cuts, and said last month that sales volumes were holding up despite the global downturn.
Rival miner Rio Tinto Ltd last week reported an 18 percent decline in iron ore production for its fourth quarter and said earnings from its aluminium division would be hurt by falling prices, see:.
Investment bank UBS this week forecast BHP would report a 4.7 percent rise in iron ore output and a 50 percent jump in oil production in the second quarter, but a fall in copper and aluminium output.
(Reporting by James Regan) Keywords: BHPBILLITON/PRODUCTION (jim.regan@thomsonreuters.com; +61-2 9373-1814; Reuters Messaging: jim.regan@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.