Talvivaara Delivers First Nickel to Norilsk Nickel

19 Feb 2009 09:28



Talvivaara Mining Company Plc and Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta Oy

Talvivaara delivers first nickel to Norilsk Nickel

19 February 2009

Talvivaara Mining Company Plc ("Talvivaara", "the Company"), the Finnish mining company with a primary focus on nickel and zinc, is pleased to announce that a first shipment of approximately 100 tonnes of nickel product was sent today from the Talvivaara mine in Sotkamo to the Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta refinery. 

The delivery is the first of a series which will continue under Talvivaara's 10-year Off-take Agreement with Norilsk Nickel for the entire output of the mine's nickel and cobalt production.

VR Cargo, the leading Finnish freight transport company, has developed the customised railway transport equipment which will be used to transport the metal sulphides to the refinery also in the future.

Talvivaara's CEO Pekka Perä commented: 

"Today's first shipment of nickel to Norilsk, our off-take agreement partner, is a fundamental step forward for Talvivaara as we progress towards full production and becoming one of the world's leading nickel mining companies. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our partners, suppliers and employees for their continued good work, which has allowed the first delivery process to run so smoothly today."

Heikki Saari, Director of Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta, said: 

"The first train load of nickel sulphide marks the beginning of a new era here in Harjavalta. In this project we get to be part of a new chain of nickel refining technology and to develop it jointly with Talvivaara."

ENQUIRIES

Talvivaara Mining Company Plc Tel: +358 20 7129 800

Saila Miettinen-Lähde

Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta Oy Tel: +358 25 3712 200

Heikki Saari

Merlin Tel: +44 207 653 6620

Tom Randell

Anca Spiridon

About Talvivaara Mining Company Plc.

Talvivaara is a Finnish mining company constructing a large open pit nickel mine in Sotkamo, Finland. Talvivaara aims to become an internationally significant base metals producer with its primary focus on nickel and zinc using a technology known as bioheapleaching to extract metal out of low grade ore. Bioheapleaching makes extraction of metals from low grade ore economically viable. The Talvivaara deposits comprise one of the largest known sulphide nickel resources in Europe. The ore body is sufficient to support anticipated production for a minimum of 24 years. The Company has secured a 10-year off-take agreement for 100 per cent of its main output of nickel and cobalt to Norilsk Nickel. Talvivaara is listed on the London Stock Exchange Main Market and is included in the FTSE 250 Index. Further information can be found at www.talvivaara.com

About Norilsk Nickel

Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta Oy belongs to international OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel Group, which is the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium and one of the largest producers of copper, cobalt and other metals of the platinum group. Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta produces approximately 66,000 tonnes of nickel and nickel chemicals for international customers. The company's turnover was 1 billion euros in 2007, and it has 250 employees.