OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (hereinafter - "MMC Norilsk Nickel" or "the Company" or "the Group") announces that today a permanent checkpoint on the State Russian Border for cargo and passengers was officially inaugurated.
The opening ceremony was attended by Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, as well as by representatives of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, the Federal Customs Service, Federal Agency for Sea and River Fleet (Rosrechmorflot), and Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. Last week Inter-Agency Commission's members signed a certificate proving the checkpoint compliance with all the relevant requirements.
Before opening of the permanent checkpoint, import and export cargoes were cleared through customs in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk seaports, as well as in the ports of the Far East. Now, the marine vessels carrying out international routes may be shipped directly in Dudinka with registration of all the required border and customs documents.
Foreign vessels may also touch directly at Dudinka, executing all the necessary documents in the port. Thus, Dudinka port becomes the northernmost international seaport.
The first ship executed the permit procedure today was "Norilsk Nickel" diesel-electric ship carrying the Company's metal products and heading for the western ports during its scheduled voyage.
As explained by Yevgeny Ovcharov, Director for Logistics of OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel, "the establishment of a checkpoint at Dudinka seaport will allow the Company saving time for the delivery of the Company's products to overseas ports and, therefore, improving the efficiency of our fleet".
According to Mr. Ovcharov, the Company contributes enormously to the development of the Northern
Sea Route and to the strengthening of Russia's geopolitical position in the Arctic.
Since 2006, MMC Norilsk Nickel has accepted for operation five ice-class container vessels, which make up the body of the Company's sea fleet. Since November 2011 the Company's ice-class tanker has been successfully operated.
Sea fleet ensures year-round guaranteed cargo delivery to Norilsk Industrial Area and export of commercial products to domestic and foreign markets.
Annual freight turnover ensured by the Company's sea fleet along the Northern Sea Route totals 1mln. t, including 0.45 mln. t of commodity metals and 0.55 mln. t of cargos for Norilsk Industrial District.
MMC Norilsk Nickel, a company incorporated under the laws of the Russian Federation, is the largest diversified mining and metals company in Russia, the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium and one of the world's largest producers of platinum, rhodium, copper and cobalt. In addition to this, MMC Norilsk Nickel produces a large number of other by-products, including gold, silver, tellurium, selenium, iridium and ruthenium.
The key production units of the Company's group in Russia are at the Taimyr and Kola Peninsulas.
MMC Norilsk Nickel international assets include operations in Finland, Australia, Botswana and South Africa.
MMC Norilsk Nickel's shares are traded at MICEX-RTS. ADR's on the Company's shares are traded on the other the counter market in the US and at the London and Berlin stock exchanges.
Source: MMC Norilsk Nickel