Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed valiant work of MMC Norilsk Nickel Miners

On the eve of Miner’s Day, Honored Miner of Russian Federation title was conferred on four employees of OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (hereinafter – the Company). Corresponding decree was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 12.

Awards were given to workers of the Company’s Polar Division: Alexander Lisitsin – mining operations master at Komsomolskiy mine, his colleagues, Sergei Churshukov - miner and Sergei Shpak -blasting operations master, as well as to Sergei Pershukov – locomotive motorist at Taimyr mine.

This is not the first award workers of MMC Norilsk Nickel’s mining complex received in the last six months. In accordance with the decree of Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov, issued on the eve of Metallurgist Day, Honored Miner title was conferred on the workers of the Northern mine: Petr Kosigin - electric technician and Sergei Polukhin - scooptram machinist. Additionally, certificates of honor were awarded to Alexander Kotov - head of underground explosives storage facility of Northern mine, Alexander Kuznetsov - timber-man of Kaula-Kotselvaara mine and Mikhail Nazarov - Kaula-Kotselvaara longwall miner.

Russian President Vladimir Putin personally congratulated miners of Norilsk during the videoconference held on the eve of Miner’s Day.

“This is, without exaggeration, a holiday of real toilers, strong and brave people, people you can always lean on in difficult times. Miners are indeed people made out of hard, unswerving rock. Your work gives birth to the character, reinforces it, promotes fortitude and dignity of a working man, generates pride for your profession, traditions of true brotherhood, traditions, which live in miner dynasties and are passed on from one generation to the next” noted Vladimir Putin.

Company’s management joins the congratulations of the country’s senior leaders and wishes its employees continued success.

Development of a resource base is currently a priority for MMC Norilsk Nickel. The Company cares for the safety of its employees, continuously implementing new technologies at its mining facilities. The amount invested into this area grows considerably every year. RUB 13 bil. were allocated towards mineral resource complex (MRC) development in 2011, RUB 17.7 bil. in 2012. In total, it is planned to allocated RUB 120 bil. to these goals by 2016.

The funds are spent on deposit stripping, preparatory and mining works at the mineral deposits, construction of new objects as well as modernization and procurement of new equipment. This way, the Company will receive 122 units of mobile diesel-powered equipment designed for different purposes in 2012 with a total value of RUB 3.2 bil. The equipment is purchased from such leading companies as Atlas Copco, Sandvik, Caterpillar, Normet and Paus.

In accordance with the Company’s 2025 production development strategy, Norilsk Nickel is implementing a system of activities aimed to replenish mineral resource base and increase ore production at deeper horizons. For this reason, the project targeted at increasing production capacity of Komsomolskiy mine for all types of ores to 8 600 by 2025 is being implemented. Two shafts 2056 and 2052 meters deep are being constructed at Skalistiy section of Komsomolskiy mine. Their commissioning is planned for 2017 and 2019; these will be the deepest shafts in Russia, they will ensure production of 1.5 mil. tons of ore per annum and transportation of workers and technical goods. Innovative features of this project include an air conditioning system designed to work with air temperature of up to +40 degrees at deeper horizons.

Considerable investment made into Taimyr mining industry not only establish highly efficient production facilities and create employment opportunities, they also contribute significantly towards reinforcing the Russian presence in the Arctic region, national security and stable social and economic development of extreme north regions.

ABOUT MMC NORILSK NICKEL
MMC Norilsk Nickel, a company incorporated under the laws of the Russian Federation, is the largest diversified mining and metals company in Russia, the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium and one of the world's largest producers of platinum, rhodium, copper and cobalt. In addition to this, MMC Norilsk Nickel produces a large number of other by-products, including gold, silver, tellurium, selenium, iridium and ruthenium.

The key production units of the Company’s group in Russia are at the Taimyr and Kola Peninsulas. MMC Norilsk Nickel international assets include operations in Finland, Australia, Botswana and South Africa.

MMC Norilsk Nickel’s shares are traded at MICEX-RTS. ADR’s on the Company’s shares are traded on the other the counter market in the US and at the London and Berlin stock exchanges.