Norilsk Nickel plans to build platinum smelter in Bahrain - Dep PM Novak

MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax) - MMC Norilsk Nickel plans to build platinum production facilities in Bahrain, Deputy Russian Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday.

"The Norilsk Nickel company plans to build a plant in Bahrain to produce platinum," Novak said, when asked by Channel One about investment projects involving the two countries.

Norilsk Nickel left a question about building a site in Bahrain unanswered.

Norilsk Nickel currently produces platinum group metal concentrates from disseminated ores from its Taimyr mines and the Severny mine on the Kola Peninsula. Concentrates produced at the Copper Plant and Kola MMC are toll-refined by Krastsvetmet, Prioksky Non-Ferrous Metals Plant and JSC Uralintekh, where standard ingots are produced.

Norilsk Nickel is the largest palladium producer 43% of the world market and fourth biggest platinum producer with 12%.