Troubled miner Mirabela Nickel hopes to increase production to between 22,000 to 24,000 tonnes of nickel in concentrate in 2013.

The Perth-based, Brazil-focused miner said it had produced 19,253 tonnes during calendar 2012, that included 5291 tonnes in the final three months of the year.

Mirabela expects production to be stronger in the second half of 2013 thanks to improved access to higher quality ore and scheduled maintenance work on a primary crusher done earlier in the year.

It has forecast capital expenditure, exploration and study costs at between $US40 million ($38.22 million) and $US50 million ($47.78 million) for the year.

Mirabela axed hundreds of jobs in Brazil last July as part of a cost cutting plan while nickel prices languished.

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