Russia’s Nornickel Faces Delay at Chinese Copper Smelter Project

Russia’s MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC faces a delay in building a copper smelter on China’s south coast, after its local partner withdrew from the project.

Nornickel, as Russia’s biggest miner is known, was ready to sign a deal to begin construction before China’s May holiday period in 2025, but its partner pulled out following management changes, according to people familiar with the matter. Nornickel hasn’t publicly disclosed the identity of that partner.