Norilsk Nickel, the world’s largest producer of palladium and high-grade nickel and a major producer of platinum and copper, announces preliminary consolidated production results for the second quarter and the first half of 2023 and full year 2023 production outlook.
Sergey Stepanov, Senior Vice-President and Operational Director of the company, commented on the production results: "In 1H 2023 the output of all key metals demonstrated mixed results. We increased the production of platinum group metals by increasing ore output at Medvezhiy Ruchey mine, improving the efficiency of additional extraction of precious metals from chlorine leaching residuals at the nickel refining shop at Kola Division, as well as processing previously accumulated work-in-progress materials."
At the same time, he said, nickel production decreased due to annual seasonal factor - the inter-navigational season in the port of Dudinka, as well as scheduled repairs of furnaces at Nadezhda Smelter and a grinding mill at Talnakh Concentrator.
One of the achievements of the first half of the year was the improvement in the quality of nickel cathodes produced in Kola division, with the content of impurities reduced by 40% compared to the level of 2022.
At the same time, thanks to the operational efficiency improvement program, Trans-Baikal Division increased the volume of processing and extraction metals.
"It is important to highlight, that during the first half of the year we tested the machinery from new suppliers and began the gradual replacement of retired mining equipment with the new samples. The successful implementation of equipment replacement is essential to the achievement of our operational plans," – Stepanov added.
"Taking in account all ongoing activities, we reiterate our previously announced production guidance from own Russian feed for FY2023".
