OREANDA-NEWS. MMC Norilsk Nickel has consolidated its in-house research and development assets into a separate business that will have the status of an independent R&D Branch.

According to the press service of Norilsk Nickel, a new entity will be formed on the base of Gipronickel Research and Project Development Institute located in St. Petersburg, with two branches in the cities of Norilsk and Monchegorsk.

The Branch will consolidate under its roof all existing R&D divisions of MMC Norilsk Nickel: NorilskProject Institute, Mining&Metallurgical Research Centre in Norilsk, Project Development and Research Centre of Kola MMC, and two science and technology libraries in Norilsk and Monchegorsk.

The major goal of this reorganization is to increase the efficiency of the in-house scientific research and technology development thus promoting the Company’s leadership in global mining and metal production industry. The reorganization will improve asset management and reduce costs in R&D, also opening ways to conducting research on a contract basis.
 
The decision on the reorganization of R&D activities and consolidation of all R&D divisions was made in August 2006. This transformation is a part of MMC Norilsk Nickel’s program of management improvement and general corporate restructuring.

Alexander Perov, Deputy General Director of MMC Norilsk Nickel, was elected to chair the Board of Directors of Gipronickel Institute LLC, and Vladimir Kozyrev was appointed General Director.