Recently, Nornickel, the world's largest producer of palladium and high-grade nickel, and a major producer of platinum and copper, announced the results of preliminary combined production for the second quarter and first half of 2020.
In the second quarter of 2020, the comprehensive nickel production increased by 8% month-on-month to 56 kt, almost entirely from the company's own Russian raw materials (55 kt, month-on-month + 8%). The growth is attributed to the gradual increase in Kola MMC's nickel refineries using the new chlorine leaching technology. As part of the diversification of its advanced product sales strategy, Kola MMC's production of carbonyl nickel increased to 1.6 kt (a 3% increase).
In the first half of 2020, total nickel production fell by 2% year-on-year to 108 kt. Almost all nickel production came from the company’s own Russian raw materials (107 kt, -1% year-on-year). The reason for the decline is that Kola MMC used the new chlorine leaching technology to conduct thermal commissioning on the refinery. In the first half of 2020, the production of carbonyl nickel increased 41% year-on-year to 3.2 kt.
Russia business
In the first half of 2020, all saleable metals will be produced by the company's Russian business unit using its own raw materials. In the second quarter of 2020, Kola MMC nickel production increased by 12% year-on-year to 39 kt. The growth is attributable to the expansion of the Kola MMC nickel refinery, which plans to run the new chlorine extraction technology. In the first half of 2020, Kola MMC's nickel production fell by 7% year-on-year to 74 kt. The reason for the decline was the hot commissioning of the refinery using the new chlorine leaching technology.
NORILSK NICKEL HARJAVALTA (Finland)
In the second quarter of 2020, the nickel production at the Norilsk Nickel Plant remained unchanged at 17 kt month-on-month. In the first half of 2020, nickel production increased by 12% year-on-year to 33 kt. The increase was attributed to changes in maintenance schedules, which were postponed from May to August. NKOMATI (SOUTH AFRICA)
In the first half of 2020, Nkomati (50% owned by Norilsk Nickel Group) produced 3kt nickel (-31% year-on-year). The decrease in metal production is due to the early decision to maintain and maintain the mine and the depletion of existing open-pit reserves.
