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Russia's Nornickel opens EV battery R&D centre

Russia's Nornickel opened an R&D centre in St. Petersburg on Monday to study making use of nickelcontaining cathode active products in electrical batteries, marking the very first stage of the Russian company's entry into battery production.

The company, a major producer of top-quality nickel, said that the launch is expected to lay the groundwork for future tasks aimed at establishing production facilities in the battery materials sector.

Nornickel, which reported a 22% fall in first-half revenue on Aug. 23 due to weak nickel rates, logistical problems, and issues associated with cross-border payments, is closely looking at the EV batteries sector.

Nornickel's Vice President for Innovations, Vitaly Busko, stated the move to open an R&D centre also lines up with Russia's. objectives of making sure a full-cycle battery production for electrical. transportation.

Busko told the Russian media at the launch occasion that the. business will choose within one year whether to open a cathode. active products production facility. He stated that the company. is looking for a possible area for such a facility.

Nornickel's CEO, Vladimir Potanin, stated in April that the. company planned to develop a nickel supply chain in the EV. batteries sector and develop joint endeavors with Chinese EV. battery producers.

Potanin also named Russia's nuclear power monopoly, Rosatom,. as a prospective partner for an EV battery venture in Russia.

The business likewise stated it is looking for methods to incorporate in. the international EV battery production as a way to compromise the effect. of the Western sanctions against Russia on its business.

In July, sources informed Reuters that Nornickel remains in talks. with several Chinese battery business to develop a plant collectively. producing nickel material from Russian semi-finished items.

EV batteries are charged and released by the circulation of. lithium ions in between the graphite-containing anode and the. cathode. Cathodes contain nickel, which provides high energy. density, allowing the car to take a trip further.

(source: Reuters)