MMC Norilsk Nickel (IM, July 2006, p8) has announced preliminary consolidated production figures of its Polar Division and Kola MMC for the first half of 2006. Tav Morgan, Deputy General Director of Norilsk, announced that the company fulfilled its second quarter and first half 2006 production plan for nickel and copper, producing 61,000 t of nickel and 109,000 t of copper from April through June 2006. Overall production volumes for the first half of 2006 reached 121,000 t of nickel and 218,000 t of copper.
The company produced 881,000 oz (27.4 t) of palladium and 215,000 oz (6.7 t) of platinum during the second quarter of 2006. Overall production volumes for the first half of 2006 reached 1.656 Moz (51.5 t) of palladium and 398,000 oz (12.4 t) of platinum. These volumes are related only to the production results of the Polar Division and Kola MMC and do not include those that were produced at Stillwater Mining.
In addition, Tav Morgan informed that expected nickel and copper production for 2006 remains in line with the production plan, calling for an estimated 243-248,000 t of nickel and 422-427,000 t of copper.
The company is raising its 2006 production forecast for palladium to between 3.05-3.10 Moz (95-96 t) and platinum to 720-730,000 oz (22-23 t).