Delay and new cost conditions may persuade De Beers to abandon the Grib pipe By John Helmer in Moscow Unclear conditions set for De Beers’ s new Archangelsk region diamond project, and unexplained delays by the Russian government in communicating them, are likely to trigger the cancellation of the $172 million fund-raising, held last June […]

by John Helmer - Monday, October 20th, 2008
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By John Helmer in Moscow The first sign of a Russian economic crisis is a line of desperate people, pushing and shoving outside a locked door, on which a scribbled sign has been posted indicating that the cash those outside thought they owned would be unavailable until further notice. In the classic Soviet tradition, a […]

by John Helmer - Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
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By John Helmer in Moscow Norilsk Nickel investigation of asset spinoff leads to questioning of shareholder intention Mikhail Prokhorov’s holding company, Onexim, has officially confirmed that Mikhail Prokhorov will not proceed with the asset division agreement he signed on September 14 with former partner, Vladimir Potanin. A statement issued to Mineweb by the holding’s chief […]

by John Helmer - Wednesday, October 8th, 2008
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By John Helmer in Moscow Oleg Deripaska is not having a good week. On Monday, he revealed he was at maximum stretch to garner just enough shareholder votes for two seats on the Norilsk Nickel board, plus a seat for his highly unpredictable and unreliable shareholding ally, Mikhail Prokhorov. On Thursday, Justice Christopher Clarke issued […]

by Editor - Thursday, July 3rd, 2008
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On Saturday May 17 this site was attacked by a Russian, who left behind a trail of technical identifiers, and whose identity is known. The feedback confirms the accuracy and value of the materials posted on the site during the past week. We appreciate the backhanded acknowledgement.

by John Helmer - Sunday, May 18th, 2008
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The document is available here.

by John Helmer - Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
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Many things can make a person greater than he or she really is, except for time. Time activates the bacteria that strip the flesh off the bones, until only a forensic pathologist can detect the tiny signs of individuality; and even they add up to nothing more than a catalogue of pain and death. Time […]

by John Helmer - Saturday, December 22nd, 2007
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By John Helmer in Moscow Mystery American company takes concession to mine large antimony reserves in Tajikistan. Antimony is one of the rare metals for whom new applications are being devised in electronics, battery manufacture, and flame retardants, but whose worldwide supply is fast running out. That imbalance between supply and demand makes for highly […]

by John Helmer - Monday, October 22nd, 2007
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OPINION AND ANALYSIS “It’s pleasant to be here, you feel comfortable, and you don’t feel people are watching you,” Roman Abramovich on buying Chelsea Football Club in London, for equity and debt totaling $240 million. Russian villagers like to say that if you drink you die; and if you don’t drink you die, so it’s […]

by John Helmer - Tuesday, August 7th, 2007
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By John Helmer in Moscow Oleg Deripaska is under unexpected personal pressure, at home and abroad, just when his plan to take control of one of the largest bauxite and aluminium producers in the world is close to final government approval. And that is exactly why the trouble for Deripaska is growing now. Russian government […]

by John Helmer - Saturday, May 19th, 2007
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