MINING AND METALLURGICAL COMPANY NORILSK NICKEL 
MMC Norilsk Nickel (MNOD) NORNICKEL ANNOUNCES CONSOLIDATED PRODUCTION RESULTS FOR 9 MONTHS OF 2021 20-Oct-2021 / 13:00 MSK Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement that contains inside information according to REGULATION (EU) No 596/2014 (MAR), transmitted by EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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PRESS RELEASE
Public Joint Stock Company «Mining and Metallurgical Company «NORILSK NICKEL» (PJSC "MMC "Norilsk Nickel", "Nornickel" or the "Company")
NORNICKEL ANNOUNCES CONSOLIDATED PRODUCTION RESULTS FOR 9 MONTHS OF 2021 Moscow, October 20, 2021 - Nornickel, 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 third quarter and nine months of 2021.
Senior Vice President, Operations, Sergey Stepanov commented on the production results:
«In 9M 2021, the output of all key metals decreased owing to the temporary suspension of Oktyabrsky and Taimyrsky underground mines and Norilsk Concentrator. Over this period, production volumes of saleable nickel and copper reduced more relative to platinum group metals due to the shorter production cycle from ore to refined metal of the former. This factor played a reversed role once the mines and the concentrator started to recover, driving faster recovery of nickel and copper volumes relative to PGMs in the third quarter.
In addition, we would like to remind that a significant reduction in work-in-progress in transit materials and increase in PGM output in 1Q21 helped to partly offset the negative impact of temporary suspension of operations during the first 9M 2021. However, the shutdown of the metallurgical shop of Kola MMC in Monchegorsk in 1Q21 contributed additionally to the reduction of copper production in 9M 2021.
Currently, the Oktyabrsky mine is operating at full capacity, which was resumed already by the middle of May. The Taimyrsky mine is running at 85% capacity since resuming operation in early June and expected to return to full capacity by the beginning of December. At the moment, we are finishing pumping out the water from the bottom horizons of this mine, as well as reinstalling the fasteners at the horizons, which have been already drained, aiming at the improvement of industrial safety. The Norilsk Concentrator has recovered to 93% of its design capacity with the help of mobile crushers, and is expected to return to full capacity by this December.
Taking into account the current progress in the recovery of the production facilities of the Norilsk division, we reiterate 2021 metal production forecast for nickel and copper within the earlier announced range, while flagging up an upside risk for PGM volumes, which are expected at the top end of the guided range.»
NORILSK NICKEL GROUP
Nickel
In 3Q21, consolidated nickel output increased 55% quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) to 51 kt, almost all of which were produced from the Company's own Russian feed (50 kt, up 60% q-o-q). The increase in production was attributed to the completion of recovery of the Taimyrsky mine (4.3 mtpa of ore) after the flooding caused by the inflow of groundwater, as well as the ramp up of the Norilsk Concentrator as a result of the launch of mobile crushers. The Taimyrsky underground mine and Norilsk Concentrator are scheduled to return to full capacity this December.
The decrease in nickel production in 3Q21 at Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta was caused by annual scheduled maintenance and repairs.
In 9M21, total nickel output decreased 23% y-o-y to 130 kt, practically all of which were produced from the Company's own Russian feed (127 kt, down 23% q-o-q).
The decrease in production was attributed to the temporary suspension of mining operations and subsequent restoration works at Oktyabrsky (5 mtpa of ore) and Taimyrsky (4.3 mtpa of ore) underground mines of the Norilsk division after the flooding caused by the inflow of groundwater, as well as the temporary suspension of the Norilsk Concentrator and consequent repairs.
Copper
In 3Q21, copper production increased 42% q-o-q to 116 kt. In 9M21, total copper output decreased 20% y-o-y to 288 kt , almost all of which were produced from the Company's own Russian feed. Copper production declined in the reported periods due to the same causes as described above for nickel.
Platinum Group Metals
In 3Q21, palladium and platinum output increased 9% and 8% q-o-q to 598 koz and 145 koz, respectively. In 9M21, total palladium and platinum output reduced 7% y-o-y to 1,913 koz and 10% y-o-y to 463 koz, respectively. All PGMs were produced from the Company's own Russian feed. The decline in PGMs production in the reported periods was attributed to the same causes as described above for nickel.
Production Guidance from the Company's Russian feedstock for 2021
Metal Volume Norilsk Nickel Group (excluding Chita) Ni, kt 190-200 Cu, kt 335-355 Pd, koz 2,350-2,410 Pt, koz 580-640 Bystrinsky (Chita) Copper Project (1) Cu, kt 65-70 Au, koz 230-240
Note: 1. Norilsk Nickel Group owns 50.01% of Bystrinsky GOK (Chita Copper Project). Production results are shown metal in concentrate for sale on 100% basis and fully consolidated in total operational results. The concentrator at the Bystrinsky project was launched 2019.
3Q 2Q
NORILSK NICKEL GROUP SALEABLE METALS PRODUCTION 1 Q-o-Q 9M 2021 9M 2020 Y-o-Y
2021 2021
Total nickel t 50,575 32,644 55% 129,858 167,753 -23%
including from own Russian feed t 50,194 31,457 60% 127,208 165,985 -23%
Total copper t 115,617 81,400 42% 288,310 358,588 -20%
including from own Russian feed t 115,591 81,400 42% 288,284 358,447 -20%
Total palladium koz 598 548 9% 1,913 2,053 -7%
including from own Russian feed koz 598 548 9% 1,912 2,052 -7%
Total platinum koz 145 134 8% 463 513 -10%
including from own Russian feed koz 145 134 8% 463 513 -10%
Norilsk and Kola Division (Russia)
Nickel t 43,014 23,874 80% 99,698 121,938 -18%
Kola MMC, including t 43,014 23,874 80% 99,698 121,938 -18%
refined Ni from own Russian feed t 37,700 17,107 120% 81,002 112,079 -28%
saleable intermediate products from own Russian feed t 5,314 6,767 -21% 18,696 9,859 90%
from 3d parties feed t 0 0 0% 0 0 0%
Copper t 97,810 64,932 51% 237,756 311 159 -24%
Norilsk Division t 95,020 61,427 55% 219,108 262,384 -16%
Kola MMC, including t 2,790 3,505 -20% 18,648 48,775 -62%
Cu cathodes from own Russian feed t 0 66 -100% 9,169 44,990 -80%
saleable intermediates from own Russian feed t 2,790 3,439 -19% 9,479 3,785 150%
from 3d parties feed t 0 0 0% 0 0 0%
Palladium koz 592 548 8% 1,906 2,044 -7%
Norilsk Division koz 299 249 20% 783 880 -11%
Kola MMC, including koz 293 299 -2% 1,123 1,164 -3%
from own Russian feed koz 293 299 -2% 1,123 1,164 -3%
from 3d parties feed koz 0 0 0% 0 0 0%
Platinum koz 144 134 7% 461 511 -10%
Norilsk Division koz 73 67 9% 199 224 -11%
Kola MMC, including koz 71 67 5% 262 288 -9%
from own Russian feed koz 71 67 5% 262 288 -9%
from 3d parties feed koz 0 0 0% 0 0 0%
Kola Division (NN Harjavalta, Finland)
Nickel, including t 7,561 8,770 -14% 30,160 45,815 -34%
from own Russian feed t 7,180 7,583 -5% 27,510 44,047 -38%
from 3d parties feed t 381 1,187 -68% 2,650 1,768 50%
Copper, including t 393 0 - 393 1,650 -76%
from own Russian feed t 367 0 - 367 1,509 -76%
from 3d parties feed t 26 0 - 26 141 -82%
Palladium, including koz 6 0 - 6 9 -33%
from own Russian feed koz 6 0 - 6 8 -27%
from 3d parties feed koz 0 0 - 0 1 -81%
Platinum, including koz 1 0 - 1 2 -28%
from own Russian feed koz 1 0 - 1 2 -10%
from 3d parties feed koz 0 0 - 0 0 -100%
Zabaykalsky Division (Russia) 2 (MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires
October 20, 2021 06:00 ET (10:00 GMT)
