Vale has started nickel production from the Onca Puma nickel project in the State of Para. The mine and a processing plant will ultimately have a capacity of 53,000tn/yr of nickel contained in ferro-nickel, its final product. Vale has started the production of first metal from the first of the two ferro-nickel production line and expects to begin production from the second line later this year. Vale’s investment in the ramp-up of the Onca Puma project is about $146 million.