MMC Norilsk Nickel announced preliminary consolidated production results for the 1 quarter of 2010 the Polar and Kola Divisions in Russia and international operations in Finland, Botswana and South Africa.

Overall salable nickel production in the first quarter of 2010 amounted to 70 thousand. T compared to 69 thousand. Tons in the first quarter of 2009 (+ 1%). The increase in total output and nickel in the reporting period due to the increase in production of nickel by Russian entities, as well as increasing its own production of nickel in the refinery Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta in Finland.

Overall salable copper production in the first quarter of 2010 amounted to 97 thousand. T compared to 96 thousand. Tons in the first quarter of 2009 (+ 1%).

During the reporting period the company produced 690 thousand. Ounces of palladium, which exceeds the level of production in Q1 2009 by 17%, and 160 thousand. Ounces of platinum (up 14%).

Polar and Kola Divisions produced in the first quarter of 2010, 56.9 thous. Tons of nickel compared to 55.2 thousand. T in the same period of 2009

Volumes of production of copper parts of the Russian company in the first quarter of 2010 amounted to 90.6 thousand. T, which is generally consistent with the similar indicators of the 1st quarter of last year.
During the reporting period, the Polar Division and Kola MMC could increase the production of platinum group metals to 656 thousand. Troy ounces of palladium and 154 thousand. Troy ounces of platinum. These results are consistent with the approved planned targets and the annual forecast of the company.

In the reporting period the volume of production of nickel refinery Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta in Finland amounted to 8.9 thousand. Tonnes of own salable nickel, with nickel in the period under tolling was not produced. The volume of production of Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta was at 3.2 thousand. Tons below the approved plan, which is associated with short shipment of raw materials to the redistribution of leaching. Backlog of targets is planned to compensate in the second half of 2010

The total production of nickel in concentrate by Tati Nickel and Nkomati in the first quarter of 2010, consistent with production plans and amounted to 4.4 thousand. Tons.

In the 1st quarter of 2010 work on mining and production of commercial products to the Australian companies were not conducted.

These production figures do not include the results of the Stillwater Mining Company — a subsidiary of MMC Norilsk Nickel.