SMM2, March 12: recently, Norilsk Nickel released its financial report for the fourth quarter of 2019. Sergey Dyachenko, chief operating officer, said to the production results that due to the improvement of operational efficiency, the optimization of the production process and the continuous progress of the Bystrinsky project, the company increased the production of all key metals in 2019. Total nickel production increased by 5% to 229 kt, from a year earlier due to the increase in the operation of new chlorine leaching technologies in the refining plant and the expansion of Kola MMC's carbonyl ji nickel production capacity. Due to improved operational efficiency, increased ore production and copper grade at the Talnakh mine, and the full commissioning of the Bystrinsky (Chita) project, total copper production increased by 5 per cent year-on-year to a record 499 kt, palladium and platinum production increased by 7 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively, to 2.9 and 0.7 ounces, respectively, mainly due to the release of work-in-process stocks.
In the fourth quarter of 2019, nickel production increased by 8 per cent to 62 kt, month-on-month, almost entirely from Russia's own raw materials, due to increased production of nickel concentrates sold to third parties and the expansion of Kola MMC carbonyl ji nickel production capacity.
In 2019, combined nickel production increased by 5 per cent to 229kt from a year earlier, due to the gradual increase in nickel refineries using new chlorine leaching technology, the expansion of carbonyl ji nickel production and the start-up of low-grade nickel concentrate production to sell to Kola MMC third parties and more third-party raw materials for processing in Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta.
The company's own production of nickel from Russia totaled 225 kt, in line with the highest level of production guidance for 220-225 kt in 2019.
Russian business
In 2019, all marketable metals produced by the company's Russian business came from its own raw materials. The 13 per cent month-on-month increase in, Kola MMC nickel production in the fourth quarter to 46 kt, nickel production was attributable to an increase in nickel concentrate sold to third parties and a fourfold increase in Coke MMC carbonyl ji nickel production capacity to 1.7 kt, month-on-month.
In 2019, the Company's nickel production in Russia increased by 5 per cent to 166 kt from a year earlier, mainly due to the gradual increase in, Kola MMC carbonyl ji nickel production to 4.4 kt (75 per cent year-on-year) at nickel refineries using new chlorine leaching technology and the start of production of low-grade nickel concentrates for sale to third parties at Kola MMC.
NORILSK NICKEL HARJAVALTA (Finland)
Nickel production at the Norilsk nickel plant fell by 5 per cent to 16 kt in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared with the previous quarter, owing to a three-day suspension of production in November 2019 as a result of a scheduled "solidarity" strike in Finland in support of postal workers.
Harjavalta's nickel production rose 3 per cent to 62 kt in 2019 from a year earlier. The increase is attributable to an increase in the amount of nickel received from Boliden for further processing.
Guide to the production of Russian Raw Materials in 2020:
Production situation:
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