Canada’s Sherritt International Corp announced that the expansion of the JV Moa nickel cobalt sulphide operations in Cuba and of its Fort Saskatchewan refinery which treats that sulphide is on track for first stage completion at the end 2007.

Sherritt said the first stage expansion will add 4,000 tonne per year of mixed sulphide capacity at Moa. A second stage expansion will add another 9,000 tonne per year of capacity in 2009 is also on track.

Sherrit added that the production remains on target to hit the company’s guidance for 2007 of 33,000 tonne of mixed sulphide at Moa and around 32,000 tonne of finished nickel and 3,500 tonne of cobalt.

Sherritt’s 50% take of refined output in the first quarter dipped slightly to 3,514 tonnes from 4,209 tonnes in the 4th quarter of 2006 and 3,681 tonnes in 1st quarter of 2006. It noted that both production and sales in the quarter were impacted by a strike at Canada’s CN Rail.