OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel announces preliminary consolidated production results for the second quarter of 2009 and first half of 2009 at its Polar and Kola Divisions in Russia and international operations in Finland, Australia, Botswana and South Africa.

Overall saleable nickel production in the first quarter of 2009 amounted to 71,000 tonnes as compared to 69,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2009.

In the second quarter of 2009, the Polar and Kola Divisions in Russia produced 56,500 tonnes of nickel exceeding the production plan by 1,100 tonnes. In the first half of 2009 the production of nickel totaled 111,700 tonnes which represents a 1% YoY increase in comparison with first half of 2008.

In the second quarter of 2009, overall combined production of nickel in concentrate by Tati Nickel and Nkomati totaled 5,700 tonnes. In the first half of 2009 these entities produced 11,200 tonnes of nickel in concentrate.

In the second quarter of 2009 the Harjavalta nickel refinery in Finland produced 14,000 tonnes of nickel, including 9,200 tonnes of own saleable nickel and 4,700 tonnes of tolled nickel. In the first half of 2009 the production totaled 27,000 tonnes of nickel including 16,600 tonnes of proprietary nickel.