Prime Tass publishes that the administration of Irkutsk region and MMC Norilsk Nickel act for the contest for the Sukhoi Log deposit taking place.

As it has been already informed, the conditions of the contest were signed in June 2003 by the administration, and approved at the level of federal ministries and departments. However, at the end of October the deputy Minister of Economic Development Mukhamed Tcikanov announced that the tender will be in the form of an auction.

According to the deputy head of the regional administration Larisa Zabrodskaya, the difference between a contest and an auction is that in the first case the winner is the company that offers the bets conditions of the deposit’s development while at an auction the sum proposed is of greater importance.

One of the principal pretenders to the Sukhoi Log deposit is CJSC Polus (100% of which belong to MMC Norilsk Nickel). Usal and Polimetall Companies, Canadian Barrick Gold, Placer Dome and British Fleming Family&Partners have shown their interests in the deposit as well.