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yet to report on the impact the accident will have on its operational and financial performance in 2021 while Norilsk Concentrator operates at a reduced capacity. In 2019 Norilsk Concentrator processed 7.5mnt of ore feed, processing 39% of ore feed within Polar Division and 18% of all Russia-mined ore at Norilsk, we estimate.
Norilsk Nickel reported an accident at its Norilsk Concentrator. According to the company’s most recent statement (22 February), “the building of the ore reloading facility and the adjoining walkway collapsed in the Norilsk Concentrator during repairs to reinforce the structure”. Three people died while five sustained injuries, the company reported.
The Russian authorities, namely the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, have initiated the inquiry into the accident while the company is fully cooperating with the investigation. The concentrator operates at a reduced capacity, the company reported.
The operations at Norilsk Nickel’s Polar Division are likely to come under the scrutiny of the local Industrial Safety authorities as well as become a subject of a criminal investigation. Many operational assets could be a subject of industrial safety inspection but the inspection itself shouldn’t lead to any sizable downtime and loss of production.
How critical is Norilsk Concentrator? Due to the accident, operations at Norilsk Concentrator could be affected, we consider. The company has yet to access and quantify risks linked to a potential temporary suspension of the operation at Norilsk Concentrator. Located between Norilsk and Zapolyarnya & Bear Creer mines, Norilsk Concentrator processes all disseminated ores from the Norilsk-1, cupriferous and disseminated ores from the Oktyabrskoye and Talnakhskoye deposits and Copper Plant’s low-grade ores.
The final product of Norilsk Concentrate is nickel concentrate and copper concentrate, both smelted at Copper Plant in Norilsk. In 2019 Norilsk Concentrator processed 7.5mnt of ore feed, processing 41% of ore feed within Polar Division and 18% of all Russia-mined ore at Norilsk, we estimate. Although we yet to hear about the potential suspension of operations at the Norilsk Concentrator, we expect the company to take steps to actively mitigate any potentially negative effects on its operations.
159 RUSSIA Country Report March 2021 www.intellinews.com