The output of Norilsk Nickel:Q3 Nickel Mine increased by 8% month-on-month.

SMM10 March 22: recently, Norilsk Nickel released its third-quarter financial report, and Sergey Dyachenko, first vice president and chief operating officer, commented on the production results: I would like to reiterate that reducing our environmental footprint is still our strategic priority, and we will continue to work hard to fundamentally improve the ecological conditions of the areas in which we operate. Production of nickel and palladium increased by 8 per cent in the third quarter from the previous quarter, as the Cora nickel refinery planned to add new chlorine leaching technology, while platinum group metals production in the Kola division increased by more than 30 per cent.

Nickel production in the first three quarters remained unchanged from a year earlier, while copper and PGM production declined. The decrease in platinum group metal production is due to the high base effect in the first three quarters, when a large number of previously accumulated WIP stocks were processed, while the decrease in copper production was due to reduced inventory of concentrate processing purchased from Rostec due to depletion.

Output in the third quarter:

NORNICKEL GROUP

In the third quarter of 2020, comprehensive nickel production rose 8 per cent from the previous quarter to 60 kilotons, almost entirely from the company's own Russian raw materials (59 kilotons, up 7 per cent from the previous quarter). The growth is due to the use of new chlorine leaching technology by Kola MMC and the gradual production of nickel refineries that sell nickel concentrates.

In the first three quarters, total nickel production was almost flat year-on-year, reaching 168 kilotons, almost all of which came from the company's own Russian raw materials (166 kilotons, + 1% year-on-year). As part of the diversification of its sales strategy for advanced products, Nornickel's carbonyl ji nickel production increased by 34 per cent to 3.6kt compared with the same period last year.

RUSSIAN OPERATIONS

, Kola MMC nickel production rose 21% year-on-year to 48 kilotons in the third quarter of 2020. The increase in production is due to Kola MMC's plan to increase the capacity of the nickel refinery, which uses new chlorine leaching technology and has a higher production of nickel concentrate. , Kola MMC's nickel production in the first three quarters increased 1 per cent year-on-year to 122 kilotons, including 10 kilotons of nickel concentrate for sale (up 128 per cent year-on-year).

NORILSK NICKEL HARJAVALTA (FINLAND)

In the third quarter of 2020, nickel production at the Norilsk Harjavalta fell 23% month-on-month to 13 kilotons due to a change in the maintenance plan, and planned repairs were postponed from May to August. In the first three quarters, nickel production was 46 kilotons, almost flat.

NKOMATI (SOUTH AFRICA)

In the first three quarters, Nkomati (was 50% owned by Norilsk Nickel Group) produced 4,000 tons of nickel, 2,000 tons of copper, 22 koz palladium and 10 ounces of platinum. The decline in metal production is due to earlier decisions to maintain and maintain mines and the depletion of existing open-pit reserves.

Production guidance for 2020: