OREANDA-NEWS. On October 12, 2007 Mining and Metallurgical Company Norilsk Nickel ("Norilsk Nickel") announced preliminary consolidated production of 75 thousand metric tonnes of saleable nickel for the third quarter of 2007, reported the press-centre of Norilsk Nickel.

These figures include production from the Polar and Kola Divisions in Russia and the Norilsk Nickel International operations in Finland, Australia, Botswana and South Africa. Overall nickel production volume at these operations for the first 9 months of 2007 reached 214 thousand metric tonnes.

Norilsk Nickel produced 104 thousand metric tonnes of saleable copper at the Polar and Kola Divisions, Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta and Norilsk Nickel Africa in the third quarter of 2007. Overall copper production volume at these operations for the first 9 months of 2007 reached 312 thousand metric tonnes.

Saleable palladium production from the Polar and Kola Divisions and Norilsk Nickel Africa amounted to 804 thousand ounces (25 metric tonnes) in the third quarter of 2007. Overall palladium production volume at these operations for the first 9 months of 2007 was to 2,352 million ounces (73,2 metric tonnes).

Norilsk Nickel produced 189 thousand ounces of saleable platinum (5,8 metric tonnes) at its Polar and Kola Divisions and Norilsk Nickel Africa in the third quarter of 2007. Overall platinum production volume from these operations reached 558 thousand ounces (17,4 metric tonnes) for the first 9 months of 2007.

For 2007 Norilsk Nickel expects saleable nickel production to remain unchanged at 295-300 thousand metric tonnes. 2007 Copper, palladium and platinum production is expected to increase to account for additional production in its international operations, which were acquired on June 28, 2007. Copper production is estimated to increase from the previously announced 404-409 thousand metric tonnes to 415-420 thousand metric tonnes. Palladium production in 2007 is expected to increase from 3000-3050 thousand ounces (93-95 metric tonnes) to 3050-3100 thousand ounces (95-96 metric tonnes), and 2007 platinum production is expected to increase from 700-710 thousand ounces (around 22 metric tonnes) to 730-740 thousand ounces (22-23 metric tonnes).

The stated production volumes do not include production figures of Stillwater Mining Company.