In addition, two huge and profitable giants - the Gasprom production and distribution monopoly and the Norilsk Nickel plant are about to come under the hammer.
Traders in London suggested early yesterday that about 25,000 people had been evacuated, pipes had frozen at the smelter and Norilsk's line carrying concentrate (an intermediate material) was out of action.
Now, Norilsk nickel refineries in Siberia sell metal through Technoexport a Moscow agency, while nickel plants in Monchegorsk near Finland are retaining the services of Raznoimport.
But Korneyev said it was impossible to determine total CIS nickel exports because the metal was being exported by other companies and from stocks as well as by Norilsk.