Nornickel plans to restore full capacity of its flooded Oktyabrsky and Taimyrsky mines within the next 3-4 months. This was announced by Nornickel’s management in a press release. At the same time, according to the company, further delay due to external influences cannot be ruled out.

Nornickel: Flooded mines disrupted for at least another 3 to 4 months
Nornickel: Flooded mines disrupted for at least another 3 to 4 months

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Nornickel’s Norilsk Division presents plan

Nornickel’s Norilsk Division has developed a plan, with the baseline scenario calling for the Oktyabrsky mine (5.0 mtpa ore) to be ramped up in stages in the second half of April/May. The Taimyrsky mine (4.3 mtpa ore) is expected to resume production in early June, with full recovery taking about one month.

Risk of further delay in restoration possible

The process of water inflow closure is complicated by its high intensity and geological conditions at the sites where cofferdams are installed. At present, the Norilsk Division management assumes the base scenario. Nevertheless, due to the described circumstances, the risk of additional delay in the implementation of this plan cannot be completely excluded.

Groundwork laid for the end of water ingress

“We consistently continue to deliver on the plan to stop the inflow of water into our mines. The company has successfully completed phase one, having prepared the necessary groundwork for the suspension of the water inflow. Our absolute priority remains health and safety of employees and reliability, we have thus decided to reinforce further the water protection structures, which is currently under way. Once the second phase has been completed, the two mines will gradually start ramping up. The mining equipment has not been impacted and it is ready to resume operations,” said Nikolay Utkin, Senior Vice President and Head of the Norilsk Division.

Source: nornickel.com

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