Specifications - Norilsk Mining Centre Nickel, Palladium and Copper Production Facility, Russia

Key Data
Producer of	Nickel, copper and platinum-group metals
Location	Northern Russia
Ownership	MMC Norilsk Nickel (100%)
Geology type	Sulphide mineralisation related to intrusive complex
Mineral type	Massive sulphides
Reserve base	478.7Mt proven and probable, within 1,419Mt measured and indicated resources (2004)
Annual production	244,000t of nickel and 425,000t of copper, plus cobalt and over 3.9Moz of platinum-group metals (2006)
Mining method	Mechanised sub-level caving with fill
Processing method	Dense-medium pre-concentration, then conventional flotation of sulphide minerals, followed by smelting and refining
Employment	Around 80,000, of whom over 50,000 work in the mines and plants and the remainder in non-core activities
Key equipment (underground)	Atlas Copco drilling and haulage equipment
	Boart Longyear drilling equipment
	Putzmeister backfill pumps
(surface mining)	Liebherr hydraulic excavators
	Belaz haul trucks
(concentrator)	Mekhanobr flotation cells
(smelter)	Outokumpu flash smelter technology
Featured Suppliers
Cognis Corporation - Solvent Extraction Reagents and Services
MineCom - Wireless Automation, Personnel Tracking and Leaky Feeder Communication Systems
Minova International - Resin and Cement Capsules, Cementitious Foams and Grouts, Resin and Cement Injection Systems
REMA TIP TOP - Conveyor Belt Maintenance, Wear and Corrosion Protection