https://im.kommersant.ru/Issues.photo/NEWS/2020/08/11/KMO_177387_00242_1_t219_172246.jpg

The provision for the payment of the fine for spilling fuel under the Norilsk halved EBITDA of Norilsk Nickel in the first half, which fell to $1.8 billion, the Net profit fell 98%, to $45 million. However, the debt burden remains at a comfortable level and allows the company to pay dividends.”Nornikel” reported a decline in EBITDA of 51% in the first half, to $1.8 billion, according to IFRS. The company’s net profit decreased by 98% to $45 million Reason for the decline was the recognition of expense for environmental reserves by $2.1 billion as compensation for spilling diesel fuel at TPP-3 under the Norilsk. Such amount of fine prescribed Rosprirodnadzor, but “Nornikel” did not agree with the method of calculation and sent the service a letter asking to clarify the assessment of damages. The company relies on out-of-court settlement.It is a comfortable figure from the point of view of payment of dividends, as dividend according to the formula, the minimum level of payments to 30% of possible EBITDA to 2.2 x. Consolidated revenue increased by 7% year-on-year, to $6.7 billion, due to growth of market prices for palladium, rhodium and gold, as well as the planned increase in production at Bystrinsky GOK. The volume of capital investments increased by 10%, to $0.6 billion, due to the expansion of Talnakh enrichment plant, the development of the “South cluster”, as well as environmental program to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions at the polar division.Management “Norilsk Nickel” is working on the refinancing of its debt portfolio, reducing the average cost of servicing the debt, despite its overall growth. An accident at Norilsk he called “an unprecedented scale in the history of the company’s environmental incident.”Read more”Norilsk Nickel” neutral prospects of the market of palladium and copper, however expects to increase the surplus on the Nickel market of 150 thousand tons. According to the forecasts of the MMC, the deepest in the last decade, the crisis in the automotive industry will lead to lower demand for palladium by 16% year-on-year, and global consumption of copper will decrease by 3%.Eugene Zainullin