Russian experts visit Tati mine

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Thursday July 10, 2008 00:00

The experts are Norilsk Nickel International general director for finance Oleg Lobanov and his colleague from the same department, Pavel Popov. Lobanov was appointed director for finance last year because of his ability in restricting cost escalation and improving the efficiency of financial management and control procedures. Tati mine spokesman Tebogo Rapitsenyane said the two finance managers will be taken on a tour of the Phoenix opencast mine before they make a presentation on the Botswana Metal Refinery (BMR). BMR is a subsidiary of the Tati Nickel mine.

BMR was in charge of the indefinitely postponed P4 billion Tati Activox Refinery project. The project was suspended due to spiraling costs. Currently BMR is running the Activox demonstration plant at Tati. The plant will be toured by the Russians who are expected to shed more light on the Activox project.

The closure of the Activox Refinery project has created a sense of 'insecurity' among mine employees who fear for their jobs. Some workers told  Mmegi BusinessWeek they are pleased the Russian team will end the speculation and insecurity over their jobs. Rapitsenyane stressed that the two Russians will be accompanied by a South African, Kobus Moolman from the reputable audit firm of Deloitte and Touche.

Although their business trip will be relatively short in town, Rapitsenyane indicated that the duo would be able stay up to lunchtime before they proceed on a trip to the resort town of Kasane to view the flora and fauna. Popov and Lobanov have been on a familiarisation tour of Nkomati nickel mine in South Africa where they were accompanied by outgoing Norilsk Nickel International chief executive, Peter Breese and Norilsk Africa chief executive, Gerhard Potgieter. The Nkomati Phase Two expansion project is expected to up annual nickel in concentrate in production to 20,500 tonnes and extend the life of mine to 2027. The feasibility study for the Nkomati Activox project has been postponed for the time being just like the Tati one.

Rapitsenyane dismissed suggestions that the high profile visit by the two Russians could have been precipitated by lack of financial prudence at both Tati and Nkomati. 'No, that is not the reason. You will recall that since Norilsk Nickel International took over from LionOre last year, there is a need for a familiarisation tour of the whole interests here,' explained Rapitsenyane. Last week Wednesday, the Russian envoy to Botswana Anatoly Korsun made a familiarisation tour of Tati Nickel mine operations.