The Russian government has not yet decided whether to back the mega metals and mining merger proposed by Norilsk Nickel's owners Oleg Deripaska and Vladimir Potanin, as the companies should only merge with rivals to order to boost competitiveness and not just to consolidate debts, Russian Prime Minister Vladir Putin has stated.
As SteelOrbis previously reported, Russian tycoons Oleg Deripaska and Vladimir Potanin have proposed a plan for the merger of Norilsk Nickel with up to five Russian mining and metallurgical companies aimed at creating the world's second largest mining company. According to the plan, the government would swap debt for 25 percent of the new company.
The Russian government has said that it will take a "very balanced approach" to the case.