Norilsk Nickel asks to cancel duties on nickel and copper in exchange for closure of plant in Norilsk

Norilsk Nickel has asked the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to abolish duties on nickel and copper in 2014. Now they make up 3.5% and must be cleared in 2016. The company promises to invest the savings into the closure of the Norilsk nickel plant and the transfer of the nickel production to the Kola Peninsula. Thus the whole copper production should be concentrated in the Norilsk industrial district. This was told to the Vedomosti by a source, who participated in the November meeting at the Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s office, and was confirmed by a representative of the Economic Development Ministry.