Norilsk Nickel to Trial Nickel Smelting at Copper Plant, Aiming to Sustain Output During 2027 Furnace Overhaul

Published: Feb 13, 2026 17:39

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【SMM News Flash】Alexander Leonov, head of Norilsk Nickel's Norilsk division and vice president of the Russian metal producer, stated that the company plans to initiate nickel smelting trials at its copper smelter this year. This initiative aims to maintain production levels during the major furnace refurbishment scheduled for 2027. This innovative measure will enable the company to sustain nickel output throughout the maintenance period. As the world's largest palladium producer and a major nickel supplier, Norilsk Nickel is expected to carry out a major overhaul of the Nadezhda Metallurgical furnace in Norilsk in 2027. Leonov noted that the shutdown will last approximately 270 days, temporarily reducing the plant's capacity by nearly half.

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