MOSCOW, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russian metals conglomerate Norilsk Nickel reported I a press release Friday that it had produced 181,000 metric tons of nickel and 338,000 tons of copper in the first three quarters of 2005.
In the third quarter, the company's nickel and copper output reached 61,000 and 113,000 metric tons, respectively. It also produced 26.1 tons of palladium and 6.2 tons of platinum. These figures do not take into account the output of Norilsk subsidiary Stillwater Mining.
Annual nickel and copper production will be maintained at last year's levels, 240,000-245,000 metric tons and 440,000-450,000 tons, respectively, the press release said. In 2003, these figures stood at 239,000 and 451,000 tons.
Palladium output for 2005 is expected to reach 95.8 tons, up from 85 tons in 2004, and platinum output is expected at 22.7 tons, up from 19.8 tons last year.
