Uralplatina Holding of Viktor Vekselberg, on the photo, and Mark Buzuk attested resources of Kievey deposit in the Kola Peninsula, which aggregate size probably reaches 250 tons.
Photo: Alexander Miridonov
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Two Big Platinum Deposits Discovered in Russia
Big platinoid deposits were discovered in Russia first time from the time of the Soviet Union. Uralplatina Holding of Viktor Vekselberg and Mark Buzuk attested resources of Kievey deposit in the Kola Peninsula, which aggregate size probably reaches 250 tons. Canadian Barrick Gold proved the resources of comparable size at the neighboring deposit and the companies might close ranks to develop them. Uralplatina will hardly emerge as a strong rival for Norilsk Nickel but it will strengthen Russia’s standing on the global market.
Holder of Kievey license, Malaya Pana of Uralplatina Holding attested with the government’s commission yesterday resources for the first section of deposit, said Uralplatina Deputy General Director Sergei Mineev. The resources equal 50.8 tons of platinum metal group under the C1+C2 category. “The aggregate potential of the whole deposit is 250 tons of platinoid at the depth of up to 500 meters,” the top manager specified.
The holding obtained the discovery certificate for the deposit in September. So far, the companies have been mining from deposits discovered far back in time of the Soviet Union. Only the industry’s leader, Norilsk Nickel has managed to maintain promising raw base.
Uralplatina might attract a partner, Barrick Gold, to implement the project. The latter is currently developing neighboring Fedorova Tundra with the probable reserves of 250 tons. Barrick attested the resources of the first section a few months ago, the sources said on condition of anonymity.
People in Norilsk Nickel that covers nearly 50 percent of the global palladium market and 12 percent of platinum market didn’t comment on emergence of new competitors yesterday. Under accounting reports of Norilsk Nickel, the aggregate resources of Uralplatina and of Barrick in the Kola Peninsula account for a fifth of Russia’s stockpile of Norilsk Nickel (the proven resources of 510 tons of platinum and nearly 2,000 tons of palladium).
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Nov. 11, 2008
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