Reuters reported that Cuba's plan to produce around 70,000 tonnes of unrefined nickel and cobalt in 2009 is behind schedule, apparently due to hurricane damage sustained in 2008.

As per report, one of the country's three nickel plants, was forecast to produce 6,000 tonnes below its capacity and that in another it was possible it would reach full production.

Television Cristal said that "Mr Jorge Cuevas Ramos first secretary of the Holguin Communist Party congratulated workers for their efforts to make up lost production. These improvements along with other investments are key to leaving behind lagging output in 2009 and resuming next year the productive levels of this industry of transcendental importance for the Cuban economy."

Cuba produced 70,400 tonnes of unrefined nickel and cobalt in 2008, after averaging between 74,000 and 75,000 tonnes during much of the decade. Nickel emerged as Cuba's biggest export earner in 2000 with almost all output destined for Canada, Europe and China.

According to the Basic Industry Ministry, Cuba is one of the world's largest nickel producers and supplies 10% of the world's cobalt.

Cuba's National Minerals Resource Center reported that eastern Holguin province accounted for more than 30% the world's known nickel reserves, with lesser reserves in other parts of the country.

(Sourced from www.reuters.com)