Norilsk Nickel Group profile
Norilsk Nickel is:
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a diversified metals and mining group
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the world’s largest palladium producer
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one of the leading global producers of nickel, platinum, copper, and other metals with a low carbon footprint
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a significant supplier of metals essential for the development of a low‑carbon economy and green transport
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a vital player in the Russian Arctic zone, with its assets operating as backbone enterprises for four cities (Norilsk, Dudinka, Monchegorsk, and Zapolyarny)
Nornickel’s products
Position in the industryFor palladium, platinum, and rhodium markets – in terms of refined metals production (including tolling arrangements), for the copper market – in terms of mining production (globally). For the nickel market – in terms of metal nickel production.
Proven and probable ore reservesChanges primarily affected disseminated ores. Their prices increased relative to processing costs following adjustments to the macroeconomic outlook. The decline in proven reserves of rich ores is attributable to ongoing deposit development.
Reserves‑to‑production ratio at the current production level
across the globe
Market share
Nornickel’s vertical integration is a key strategic advantage
Nornickel’s contribution to the Stable and Dynamic Economy national goal
Targets and objectives:
a) Ensure GDP growth above the global average and achieve fourth place by GDP globally by 2030 [...]
Nornickel’s performance highlights and plans
Nornickel’s contribution to the International Cooperation and Exports national project
Relevant UN SDGs
Related federal projects
Industrial Exports
Developing International Infrastructure
Systemic Measures to Develop International Cooperation and Exports
Nornickel’s key initiatives and focus areas
Metal product exports
Development of the icebreaker fleet and transportation along the Northern Sea Route
Improving transport connectivity for remote locations (for more details, please see the Contribution to the Development of Local Communities section).
Norilsk Nickel Group
Group divisionsFor more details on deposits and the Group’s business model, please see Nornickel’s 2024 Annual Report.
Polar Division
In September 2024, two divisions – Norilsk and Kola, which comprised the Group’s core operating assets – were merged into the Polar Division to enhance Nornickel’s operational efficiency and financial stability, streamline internal processes, and break down organisational silos.
The Nornickel Group’s production chain is described in its 2023 Sustainability Report.
Trans‑Baikal Division
Energy Division
Sales Division
90 years of progress
2025 marks a special milestone for Nornickel as the Company celebrates its 90th anniversary. Since 1935, everyone involved in building one of Russia’s largest metals and mining companies has been making history – a history full of discoveries, challenges, and successes. The Company is moving forward with confidence, drawing on its legacy and pursuing ambitious plans for the future, steadily achieving its operational and financial goals, and improving the quality of life for thousands of employees and residents across the Group’s footprint.
Milestones in Nornickel’s growth and evolution
Construction of Norilsk Metallurgical Plant on the Taimyr Peninsula and of Severonickel Plant on the Kola Peninsula commenced.
The first batches of converter matte and saleable nickel were produced in 1939.
By late 1953, Norilsk Plant produced 35% of nickel, 12% of copper, 30% of cobalt, and 90% of PGMs of the Soviet Union’s total output.
Major sulphide deposits of copper‑nickel ores of the Talnakh Ore Cluster were discovered.
The construction of mines and the town of Talnakh started on the Taimyr Peninsula.
The first batch of carbonyl nickel was produced at Severonickel Plant.
Komsomolsky, Oktyabrsky, and Taimyrsky Mines were launched; Talnakh Concentrator and Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant were commissioned.
Severonickel Plant celebrated first production of electrolytic copper.
The Norilsk Nickel State Concern for the Production of Precious and Non‑Ferrous Metals was transformed into RJSC Norilsk Nickel.
In 2001, the Company was restructured, with shareholders owning a combined 96.9% stake in RJSC Norilsk Nickel exchanging their shareholdings for shares in OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel. Company shares started trading on the RTS and MICEX stock exchanges, and first American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) were issued.
A new management team took the helm of the Company. The Board of Directors adopted a new long‑term development strategy focused on world‑class production assets.
The largest greenfield project in the Russian metals industry was constructed from scratch in the Trans‑Baikal Territory.
A programme was launched to improve the environmental conditions across the Company’s footprint, including the shuttering of Nickel Plant in Norilsk, the closure of obsolete metallurgical facilities in the Murmansk Region, and the launch of the Sulphur Project.
Amid global uncertainty, the Company is pursuing a strategy of moderate growth while continuing to comprehensively develop its mining capabilities, expand its processing capacities, as well as advance the completion of the Sulphur Project, with a drastic reduction in emissions across all production sites, in 2027. Nornickel is doubling down on operational efficiency by transforming its governance system. Notable accomplishments to date include the launch of the Sulphur Project at Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant, the development of Eurasia’s deepest ore horizons, and first production at the Glubokaya shaft of Skalisty Mine.
Map of Nornickel’s 2024 highlights
- Launch of Artistic Perspectives of Exploration: The Explorer and the Artist, a major art and educational project
- Victory in the national Responsible Business Leadership awards
- First payments to DFA holders, equivalent to Nornickel dividends
- Approval of the updated Environmental and Climate Change Strategy and Key Focus Areas of Carbon Neutrality
- Holding public hearings on the outcomes of the 2023 Big Scientific Expedition
- Signing of strategic cooperation agreements with two Russian software developers
- Assessment of the Norilsk renovation project outcomes by Federation Council representatives
- The Company Vice Presidents’ Direct Line Q&A session
- Presentation of the Company’s innovative developments for carbon‑free energy in Beijing
- Signing of an agreement for the supply of next‑generation radioisotope instruments
- Deployment of an electronic trading/bidding platform to improve transparency of the Company’s procurement procedures
- Split of Nornickel shares
- Wrap‑up of the Sulphur Project’s early results
- Announcement of the Company’s plans to relocate part of its copper production capacity to China
- Start of the replacement of one of the two furnaces at Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant
- Presenting the Company’s 2023 sustainability highlights
- Presentation of four of the Company’s software import substitution projects for the industry at CIPR Conference
- Signing of information security agreements
- Signing of an agreement to strengthen support for the indigenous peoples of the North
- Completion of the fieldwork stage of exploration at the Kolmozerskoye lithium deposit
- Launch of annual assessments of suppliers against sustainability criteria
- Launch of the second cycle of the Digital Investor programme
- Employee pay rise (Group employee salaries increased by 10%)
- Completion of the installation of a backup fibre‑optic link between Novy Urengoy and Norilsk
- Studies on the Norilo‑Pyasinskaya water system
- Drilling of new wells at the Pelyatkinskoye gas condensate field
- Transfer of housing and new infrastructure to Taimyr settlements
- Release of hundreds of thousands of sturgeon fingerlings into the Yenisei River
- First batch of converter matte produced by Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant’s new furnace
- Establishment of the Polar Division, launch of a transformation across operations and management
- Inauguration of the Battery Technology Centre in Saint Petersburg
- Signing of Russia’s largest‑ever deal to purchase carbon units
- Update of the Policy of Engagement with Indigenous Small‑Numbered Peoples
- Launch of the Code of Ethics for the Information Security Market
- Launch of Nornickel platinum and palladium trading on the Moscow Exchange
- Nornickel’s annual strategy session
- Launch of a project to build a solar power plant in the Trans‑Baikal Territory
- Extension of collective bargaining agreements until 2027
- Signing of a new cooperation agreement with the Trans‑Baikal Territory
- Opening of a new corporate medical centre in Talnakh
- Issuance of carbon credits generated by the Company’s climate project
- Launch of the air quality monitoring system in Norilsk
- Verification of the Sulphur Project’s effectiveness in Norilsk
