Vale SA has announced plans to restart nickel production at its operations in Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The decision to restart the operation was made despite union strikes at the facilities for the past eight months. In September 2009, Vale partly resumed operations at its Sudbury, Ontario plant by focusing on copper production. The company targeted the operation of two exploration areas of high concentration to produce copper concentrate. In January 2010, Vale started to produce nickel, with the resumption of operation at the company’s Copper Cliff smelter. The smelter is now operating at full capacity, consuming stocks for the production of nickel oxide nickel matte for the company’s refinery Clydach, Wales, which produces about 5000 metric tons of nickel per month. The company is increasing production in Sudbury to ensure the continuous supply of nickel ore to the smelter and expects to maintain full and continuous production by the end of second quarter. Meanwhile, the Clydach refinery is operating at a rate of 1130 metric tons per month and expects to regain full capacity in April, producing 3600 metric tons of nickel per month.