Norilsk Nickel ups nickel output 5.1% to 297,000 tonnes in 2010
MOSCOW. Jan 31 (Interfax) - MMC Norilsk Nickel raised nickel production 5.1% in 2010 to 297,000 tonnes, the Arctic mining and smelting giant said.
Copper production fell 3% to 389,000 tonnes, palladium rose 2% to 2.861 million ounces, and platinum 5% to 693,000 oz.
In 2011 Norilsk Nickel is targeting the production of 300,000-315,000 tonnes of nickel, including 240,000-245,000 tonnes at its Russian divisions and 60,000-70,000 tonnes at the Norilsk Nickel International operations in Australia, Botswana and Finland. The company plans to re-launch the production of nickel in concentrate at its Australian mine - Lake Johnston in mid-2011. Lake Johnston is expecting the production of nickel in concentrate in 2011 to surpass 4,500 tonnes.
The production of copper should amount to 360,000-365,000 tonnes at the Russian divisions and to 20,000-25,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate and semi-products at the international operations of the Group. The output of palladium in 2011 should total 2,700-2.715 million ounces at the Russian divisions and 150,000-155,000 ounces of palladium at the international operations of the Group. The company plans to produce 665,000-675,000 ounces of platinum at the Russian divisions and 40,000-45,000 ounces of platinum at the international operations of the Group.
The production volumes do not include the production results of Stillwater Mining Company, which used to be a subsidiary of the company until December 2010.
Norilsk Nickel said the production increase in Russia would be possible thanks to "the efficient redistribution of feedstock between the company's Russian (Kola) and Finnish (Harjavalta) divisions."
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