OREANDA-NEWS. On September 22, 2008 General Director of OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (further on - MMC Norilsk Nickel or the Company) Vladimir Strzhalkovsky took part in the meeting of the Russian and French Prime Ministers Vladimir Putin and Francois Fillon with Russian and French businessmen at the VII’th International Investment Forum "Sochi-2008", reported the press-centre of Norilsk Nickel.

In his speech, Vladimir Strzhalkovksy emphasised significant contribution of MMC Norilsk Nickel to the development of economic co-operation between Russia and France. For instance, in 2007 the Company’s exports to France reached USD 450 million.

In addition, Vladimir Strzhalkovsky outlined a number of issues that demand specific attention of the governments of the two nations. In particular, the General Director expounded in full details the intention of the European Commission to pursue with classification of a number of nickel-containing compounds as dangerous substances in total absence of any objective grounds substantiating such a decision.

MMC Norilsk Nickel and all other global nickel producers concur with the opinion that such a decision of the European Commission lacks any sound evidence. In the modern world, nickel is renown as a reliable metal whose properties have been thoroughly studied and are well-known to the users. Over the last 100 years, the practice of appropriate use of nickel has never given any grounds to question its known characteristics.

The Company is of the opinion that the said classification of a number of nickel-containing compounds is the result of a flawed methodology in practical application of the read-across principle to the EU Dangerous Substances Directive (DSD) by the Commission.

According to Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has pointed out that this decision would affect not only the interests of MMC Norilsk Nickel but those of other Russian industries, and hence would badly affect economic co-operation between the two countries as well as between Russia and the EU in general.

In this regard, Messrs Vladimir Putin and Francois Fillon have agreed to relate this matter to Franco-Russian Council for Economic Cooperation (CEFIC). Besides that, France as the current EU president will explain to the European Commission the necessity to bring forward a reasonable and scientifically sound solution to the issue. Russia, in its turn, will engage Russian experts in addressing the problem.

Background information:
Nickel is a metal with unique physical and chemical properties. Nickel-containing scrap may be recycled infinitely, which is a prerequisite to efficient environment protection.

Nickel is an essential ingredient in certain types of steel that ensures its durability and resistance to heat and corrosion. It has rightfully become a material of choice in the production of stainless steels, especially the top quality series such 300 series, which set universal market standard. A number of industries and applications (e.g. water treatment) require that nickel should always be used in production of steels applied in these industries and it is impossible to substitute all of this nickel.

Sectors, in which hygiene and cleanliness are of great importance, will always use nickel as the material that helps secure these conditions (pharmaceutical industry, medical science, food and beverage, etc.) Durability, reliability, and long service life of fuel tanks, batteries, air engines, and other articles heavily depend on the use of nickel.

Nowadays, nickel is a driver of innovative development in a wide number of applications (electrochemistry, electromagnetic materials, etc).

The aforementioned classification of some nickel-containing compounds is the result of an incorrect (i.e. not in conformity with the OECD standards) application of the read across methodology in preparation of the amendments to the list of substances included in EU Directive on Dangerous Substances No. 67/548/EEC (DSD).