The Toronto Star, has the largest circulation in Canada. The paper has an enormous impact on federal and Ontario politics as well as shaping public opinion.

MURMANSK, Russia— In the noonday twilight, as dockworkers squint through the gloom to move mountainous heaps of coal bound for Europe, the hum of Arctic power is unmistakable.

The stevedores labour in the damp cold, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, part of the vanguard leading Russia’s latest push to build its future on the rich resources of the Far North.

Grab buckets with massive steel jaws, dangling from yellow cranes several storeys high, chomp at mounds of coal, iron ore pellets and other bulk cargo steadily replenished by a stream of trains from the south. And this is a slow winter’s day.

Russians stopped wondering about whether to develop the Arctic generations ago. The only question now is, how fast can progress march?

The Kremlin has declared the Arctic critical to the country’s 21st-century economy and national security. And it is risking billions on a strategy to reverse years of neglect and decline in its Far North. Read the rest of this entry »

The New York Times has the third highest weekday circulation in the United States (after USA Today and the Wall Street Journal) and is one of the country’s most influential newspapers.

ARKHANGELSK, Russia — Rounding the northernmost tip of Russia in his oceangoing tugboat this summer, Capt. Vladimir V. Bozanov saw plenty of walruses, some pods of beluga whales and in the distance a few icebergs.

One thing Captain Bozanov did not encounter while towing an industrial barge 2,300 miles across the Arctic Ocean was solid ice blocking his path anywhere along the route. Ten years ago, he said, an ice-free passage, even at the peak of summer, was exceptionally rare.

But environmental scientists say there is now no doubt that global warming is shrinking the Arctic ice pack, opening new sea lanes and making the few previously navigable routes near shore accessible more months of the year. And whatever the grim environmental repercussions of greenhouse gas, companies in Russia and other countries around the Arctic Ocean are mining that dark cloud’s silver lining by finding new opportunities for commerce and trade.

Oil companies might be the most likely beneficiaries, as the receding polar ice cap opens more of the sea floor to exploration. The oil giant Exxon Mobil recently signed a sweeping deal to drill in the Russian sector of the Arctic Ocean. But shipping, mining and fishing ventures are also looking farther north than ever before. Read the rest of this entry »

Global Mining Finance was created four years ago as an annual book to provide international mining executives and their peers in the financial community with an overview of the industry from a World-wide perspective. For the main website: http://www.globalminingfinance.com/past-editions.html

The following research on nickel was provided by Paradigm Capital, a research-driven investment dealer, providing Research, Trade Execution and Investment Banking services.

Commodity Focus – Nickel

Two-thirds of all nickel produced goes into stainless steel, but is also important in the world of hi-tech where the soft magnetic properties of nickel and its alloys are employed. In this article, Paradigm Capital takes a look at the market for nickel.

Demand: Driven by The Stainless Steel Recovery

Nickel has a high rate of recyclability, This distinction is often made between the use of newly produced metal and recycled scrap. By far the most important first use of nickel is the production of stainless steel which accounts for over 60% of total demand with other first-use sectors being alloys, casting, electroplating, chemicals and batteries. The stainless steel sector is growing at a CAGR of about 5-6% per annum.

The nickel market rebounded strongly in 2010 compared to a very weak 2009, as a result of improved stainless steel demand conditions in combination with an amplified restocking period. In addition, the austenitic ratio (i.e. nickel bearing stainless steel) which has traditionally run at around the 75% level, has slipped lower. This was due to nickel’s meteoric price rise in 2007 to $25/lb. which proved to be the catalyst that triggered substitution, particularly into lower nickel bearing intra stainless steel grades. This proved to be one of the double whammies. Read the rest of this entry »

The following excerpt by General Director, Chairman of the Management Board Denis S. Morozov is from the OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel 2007 Social Report which is available at: Norilsk Nickel 2007 Social Report

Dear readers,

OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel is pleased to present the social report for 2007 which represents another step forward by the company in disclosing information regarding various aspects of its operations and activities concerned with sustainable development. At the core of our development strategy and our everyday business is the belief that consistent observance of social responsibility principles is a prerequisite for sustained and effective development of business.

In 2007, the Company continued the successful implementation of the adopted development strategy, modernised the existing production facilities, provided for further development of the unique resource base and entry to the Russia’s new regions.

In 2007, the Company significantly expanded the geography of its operations. OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel successfully completed the transaction to acquire nickel business of OM Group Inc. and consolidated 100% shares of LionOre Mining International Ltd.1

The purchase of LionOre is the largest foreign acquisition in the history of Russian business. Today, MMC Norilsk Nickel is a leader of international metal markets with excellent outlook for further development.

Read the rest of this entry »

Growth and Diversity: The Changing Face of Global Mining

Introduction

Ladies and Gentlemen. It is an honour for Norilsk Nickel to present at this conference. This is our first major corporate presentation in China.

Could I begin by extending my congratulations to the organisers for the work they have put into the preparation of the conference and for helping to reinforce the reputation of China Mining as one of the premier events in the mining industry’s calendar.

For those not familiar with the name, Norilsk Nickel is Russia’s leading mining company and the world’s largest producer of nickel and palladium. It is also a major producer of copper, cobalt, platinum, and a host of minor metals from operations in the far north of Russia on the Taimyr and Kola peninsulas.

The company’s principal mining operations, located around the town of Norilsk, are extremely remote from other centres of population in Russia and exposed to some of the harshest conditions faced by miners anywhere in the world.

Read the rest of this entry »

On April 3, 2007 Denis Morozov took up the post as General Director of MMC Norilsk Nickel. Mr. Morozov was previously Deputy General Director and Member of the Management Board of MMC Norilsk Nickel.

Born on March 30, 1973, Mr. Morozov is married and has two children. He graduated with distinction from the Lomonosov Moscow State University, faculty of jurisprudence, as a specialist in law in 1996. Mr. Morozov graduated from the Swiss Banking School as a specialist in commercial banking in 1999, as well as completing postgraduate studies at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Moscow State Institute for International Relations as a specialist in international economic relations. The following year, Mr. Morozov earned a PhD in economics.

Since March 1, 1999 he worked for RAO Norilsk Nickel as Head of the Administration of Corporate Structures, Head of Corporate Capital and Investor Relations, Member of the Management Board, Member of the Board of Directors. From 2000 to 2001 he was responsible for carrying out the restructuring of RAO Norilsk Nickel and establishing a new public company, OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel, on the basis of The Norilsk Mining Company, a subsidiary of RAO Norilsk Nickel. From 2005 to 2006 Mr. Morozov was responsible for the spin-off of gold mining assets from MMC Norilsk Nickel into a separate company OJSC Polyus Gold.
 
“The Company is a well operating entity today.” Denis Morozov said, in an April 3, 2007 company press release. “Everything goes smoothly under the leadership of professional managers capable not only to set aggressive goals, but also to achieve impressive results. Continuing implementation of the corporate development strategy delivers the industry’s highest return to our shareholders in the form of dividend payments, multifold increase in share price, as well as equity interests in spun-off assets. I would like to emphasize that all of the projects launched recently will be completed as scheduled to the benefit of all our shareholders.”