Norilsk Nickel Advanced Technologies Help Maintain Production of Non-Ferrous Metals in 2020

MOSCOW, November 5, 2020 (Newswire.com) - The Kola MMC, a Norilsk Nickel subsidiary in the Russian Far North, deployed a new chlorine leaching technology, which was instrumental in boosting nickel production volumes in the third quarter by over 30%, according to the Company's consolidated results for the third quarter and nine months of 2020.  Nornickel, the world's biggest metal and mining company, owned by Vladimir Potanin, has increased its production of premium carbonyl nickel by 34% compared to last year, as part of the planned diversification into the premium segments.   

Analysts noted that production of the platinum group is now fully supported by the launch of chlorine dissolution residues processing at Kola MMC's own facilities. Overall, nickel production in 9 months of 2020 remains unchanged year-on-year, while copper and platinum group of metals output were somewhat lower, due to a slight decrease in supplies.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Potanin, the Company is implementing a substantial modernization effort of the copper production. These plans include the closure of the main smelting shop in the Kola division by the end of 2020, which will lead to a drastic reduction in sulfur emissions. Nornickel will switch to an environmentally-friendly technology based on roasting-leaching-electrowinning method and will allow an increase of production capacity up to 200 thousand tons per year.

To date, the Company has achieved material progress in the clean-up of the fuel spill incident in Norilsk. The collection of contaminated soil from the area is completed and rehabilitation of the damaged soil and vegetation continued until the first snowfalls. Nornickel is continuing its analysis of the most efficient technological solutions to recycle the contaminated soil and to restore the disturbed ecosystem in close cooperation with all stakeholders.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

MMC Norilsk Nickel is a diversified mining and metallurgical company, the world's largest producer of palladium and high-grade nickel and a major producer of platinum and copper. The company also produces cobalt, rhodium, silver, gold, iridium, ruthenium, selenium, tellurium, sulphur and other products. The production units of Norilsk Nickel Group are located at the Norilsk Industrial District, on the Kola Peninsula and Zabaykalsky Krai in Russia as well as in Finland and South Africa.

MMC Norilsk Nickel shares are listed on the Moscow and on the Saint-Petersburg Stock Exchanges, ADRs are traded over the counter in the US and on the London, Berlin and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges.

Contact: Tatyana Egorova, [email protected]

Source: MMC Norilsk Nickel