俄鎳業巨擘爭取中國資金開發新礦

Norilsk Nickel is in advanced talks with Chinese companies in the hope of securing financing for a large new copper mine, in a demonstration of how Russian groups are increasingly looking east for funds.

諾里爾斯克鎳業(Norilsk Nickel)正在與一些中國企業進行深入談判，爭取資金開發一座新的大型銅礦。這凸顯出俄羅斯企業在融資時日益將目光投向東方。

Western sanctions imposed on Russia last year because of the crisis in Ukraine had “accelerated the process” of moving closer to China, said Vladimir Potanin, the chief executive and largest shareholder of Norilsk.

諾里爾斯克鎳業首席執行官、最大股東弗拉基米爾•波塔寧(Vladimir Potanin)表示，西方去年因爲烏克蘭危機對俄羅斯實施制裁，“加快了（俄羅斯向中國靠攏的）進程”。

“I think it was already in the minds of our leaders and our government but sanctions accelerated this process,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times.

他在接受英國《金融時報》採訪時表示：“我認爲我們的領導人和政府本來就在考慮這樣做，但制裁加快了這一進程。”

Norilsk is the world’s largest nickel producer with a market value of more than $30bn, and it is hoping Russia’s Chita region — the home of its new Bystrinsky copper mine — can become a hub to service the Asian market.

諾里爾斯克鎳業是世界最大鎳生產商，市值逾300億美元。該公司希望俄羅斯赤塔地區——其新的貝斯特里茨基(Bystrinsky)銅礦所在地——能夠成爲服務亞洲市場的一個樞紐。

The company has not been directly affected by the western sanctions imposed after Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. However, Andrei Klishas, former president of Norilsk Nickel, was included on a list of Russian individuals targeted by the US and European sanctions.

西方在俄羅斯干涉烏克蘭事務之後實施的制裁，並未對諾里爾斯克鎳業造成直接影響。然而該公司前總裁安德烈•克利夏(Andrei Klishas)被美國和歐洲列入針對俄羅斯個人的制裁名單。

Norilsk is currently in discussions with Chinese companies that would buy copper from the Bystrinsky mine, which is located about 100 kilometres from the Chinese border.

諾里爾斯克鎳業眼下正與一些可能從貝斯特里茨基銅礦購買銅的中國企業談判。該銅礦距離中俄邊境約100公里。

Norilsk hopes such purchase agreements will help draw in long-term cheap lending from China’s banks for the mine.

諾里爾斯克鎳業希望此類購買協議將幫助其從中國的銀行獲得長期廉價貸款，以開發貝斯特里茨基銅礦。

To lower the potential risks for any Chinese financial institution, the company is also talking with Russian state-owned banks including Vnesheconombank. Lender VTB has already agreed to provide $1bn for the Bystrinsky mine.

爲降低任何中國金融機構面臨的潛在風險，該公司還在與俄羅斯對外經濟銀行(Vnesheconombank)等一些俄羅斯國有銀行談判。俄羅斯外貿銀行(VTB)已同意爲貝斯特里茨基銅礦提供10億美元貸款。

“With the Chinese partner and the access to Chinese finance we could explore more around the [Bystrinsky mine],” said Mr Potanin. “It’s a matter of longer-term and cheaper money . . . they have deep pockets.”

“有了中國合作伙伴以及從中國獲取貸款的途徑，我們可以在（貝斯特里茨基銅礦）周邊進行更多勘探，”波塔寧表示，“這意味着更長期、更廉價的貸款……中方的財力底氣很足。”