September 20th, 2002

A Knelson technical representative discusses the XD48 batch- type concentrator technology process with a Norilsk specialist.

Langley, Canada - Knelson is pleased to announce the receipt of another multi-unit sale of batch-type Knelson Concentrators destined for the massive Norilsk Nickel Mine located in Northern Russia. The order, which consists of 5 fully automated KC-XD48 concentrators, was received through US-based Intertech Corporation who are the exclusive representatives for Knelson in Russia and the CIS.

"We are very pleased to confirm this order as it now brings the total number of Knelson XD48 units at Norilsk to twenty-six" commented Intertech President Matthew Grodowski in a conference call from Moscow.

"This makes Norilsk by far the largest user of Knelson technology in the world and is further endorsement of the technological superiority that Knelson Concentrators offer" he added.

The order will include optional Variable-Gravity (VG) packages that enable operation of the Knelsons at elevated "G" (gravity) force, which can often provide an economic benefit especially on finely disseminated feed applications.

"As these units will be applied in the recovery of extremely fine-grained platinum values from a tailings product, the inclusion of the variable-gravity packages makes good sense and the additional cost can be easily justified" commented Doug Corsan, VP of Sales at Knelson.

Corsan continued, "unfortunately, there seems to be a fair bit of misinformation being circulated in the industry about how to evaluate and effectively apply enhanced gravitational forces in a fluidized-bed concentrator, which is an area that we have been pioneering since the late 1970's."

"Fortunately we have an excellent technical team that can combine bench-scale test data with our proprietary bed fluidization modeling program to determine the most practical and efficient "G" force for a given application, which is all part of our technical sales and support process" he added.

This order will be manufactured and delivered to a very aggressive and extremely tight time schedule as it is critical to have the units on-site by mid-December before the Arctic shipping lanes become impassable due to the formation of ice.

Open Joint Stock Company MMC Norilsk Nickel (and its subsidiary companies) is the leading producer in Russia and one of the leading producers in the world of base and precious metals. MMC Norilsk Nickel Group produces nickel, copper, cobalt, palladium, platinum, gold, silver, selenium, tellurium, technical sulfur, hard coal and other materials for industrial needs.

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