During his stay in Murmansk, company leader Vladimir Strzhalkovskii expressed readiness to continue cooperation on social and economic issues with the regional administration, newspaper Polyarnaya Pravda reports. There might be considerably less company funding for the Murmansk administration, however. Over the last few weeks, nickel prices have plummeted from its high of about 50,000 USD per ton to current levels of about 12,000 USD. According to newspaper Polyarnaya Pravda, that might result in about five billion RUB less revenues for the Murmansk budget. Mr. Strzhalkovskii confirmed that a strategic modernization and efficiency plan for the company will be presented by the end of the year. The powerful company leader during his stay met with regional Governor Yuri Yevdokimov. He also visited the company’s Severonickel unit in Monchegorsk and Pechenganickel unit in Pechenga, as well as paid a visit to the company’s new terminal in the Kola Bay and to the Atomflot base, a company press release reads. Norilsk Nickel’s main activities are located around the western Siberian city of Norilsk. The company also has core activities in Murmansk Oblast, where its subsidiary Kolskaya GMK is running operations. The company is the world’s biggest producer of nickel and a major producer of cupper, palladium, platinum and several other metals.
