CORRECTED - CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-Antam sees higher 2010 ferronickel sales

(Corrects quote in 7th para to say construction, not production, to start in 2011)

NUSA DUA, Indonesia Dec 7 (Reuters) - Indonesia's state-owned miner PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (ANTM.JK) said on Monday that it sees ferronickel sales in 2010 rising nearly 60 percent after restarting its third ferronickel smelter.

Antam previously expected to produce 17,000 tonnes of ferronickel in 2010, but became more optimistic on production and sales after its third ferronickel smelter, with a capacity of 15,000 tonnes, became fully operational.

"We expect sales in 2010 to be 19,000 tonnes, increasing from 12,000 tonnes in 2009," Tato Miraza, Antam's development director, told Reuters on the sidelines of Indonesia Mining World 2009 Conference in Bali.

"We expect production in 2010 to be 18,500 tonnes. We have stock from 2009 so we can sell more than the amount produced."

He added that Antam expects demand for nickel ore next year to be stable.

The firm is also in the process of finalising a joint venture deal with Asian investors for its integrated nickel project in eastern Indonesia after BHP Billiton Ltd (BLT.L) pulled out last year.

"Antam is still doing a feasibility study, it is being reviewed by an independent consultant and we are finalising negotiations with partners. Hopefully it will be finished next year so in 2011 we can start construction," Miraza said.

Antam will offer 30-35 percent ownership of the venture to its foreign partners and the rest will be taken by Antam and local strategic partners.

The firm is in talks with potential firms from China, South Korea, and Japan. The estimated cost of the project is $1 billion. (Reporting by Fitri Wulandari; Writing by Tyagita Silka; Editing by Sara Webb)