Nornickel Eyes Strategic Partnerships with Chinese Battery Material Producers

Nornickel, the Russian mining and metallurgical giant, is set to forge strategic partnerships with Chinese firms specializing in battery materials production. Vladimir Potanin, the company's CEO, emphasized the dual benefits of Chinese collaborations, noting they would provide Nornickel with access to cutting-edge PCAM/CAM technologies to be used in the Russian battery industry chain.

Potanin highlighted the synergistic potential of these partnerships, stating that they would enable the delivery of metals not just as raw materials but as finished products for the battery production industry. This strategic move is expected to streamline Nornickel’s sales mechanisms and enhance market access.

Previously, Nornickel had plans to integrate into the battery production chain through a joint project with BASF at the Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta electrowinning factory in Finland. Although this project has been suspended and is not expected to resume in the near future, Potanin remains optimistic about its eventual realization given its significant potential.