OREANDA-NEWS. December 25, 2014. Scheduled repair and maintenance works were started at the ore thermal furnace No.3 (OTF-3) of the Nickel Plant of the Company’s Polar Division.

In accordance with the equipment maintenance plan, primary unit (dimensions - 27x8.5x7 meters) repairs shall be carried out by Norilsknickelremont within five days. The scope of works includes restoration of furnace roof refractory, metal frame and loading area as well as general replacement of obsolete equipment. The maintenance aims to restore original design parameters and ensure consistency and safety of operations over the next four months or until the next scheduled maintenance.

OTF-3 smelts agglomerated feed materials to remove harmful contaminants and produce high-grade copper-nickel matte. Production capacity of the furnace averages approximately 16.7 thousand tonnes of matte per annum. Four of such units are presently in operation at the Nickel Plant.