The president of Norilsk Nickel, billionaire Vladimir Potanin is on the verge of returning to the first place in the list of Russia's richest businessmen, writes Bloomberg. According to the agency's estimates, the state of Potanin has increased by 12% since the beginning of the year to $ 19 billion. This is only $ 100 million less than the state of the main owner of Severstal, Alexei Mordashov, who is now the richest Russian by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the agency notes.

 The growth of Potanin's condition Bloomberg associates with two factors. The first is a rise in price of nickel, which is used in batteries for electric vehicles. Since the beginning of the year, the cost of nickel has increased by 16%. The second factor is the increase in palladium prices, which is used to reduce harmful emissions of gasoline and hybrid cars. This metal in 2017 has risen in price by 47% on expectations that gasoline cars will not disappear for a long time, the agency writes. Potanin owns about 30% in Norilsk Nickel, the largest producer of both metals. Over the past six months, shares of the mining and metallurgical company have risen in price by 27%.

Bloomberg notes that, even if the optimism about electric cars is exaggerated, Norilsk Nickel wins from changes in the automotive industry. Potanin himself told the agency that Norilsk Nickel will refrain from investing in large-scale production for electric vehicles. "We are not a venture company. We are an industrial company, and we need to invest in successful technologies, "he said. At the same time, the businessman noted that he could reconsider his position as electric vehicles developed. "This is not only a technical solution. This concerns the company's philosophy, "Potanin said.

In 2015, Vladimir Potanin headed the rating of 200 richest businessmen of Russia according to Forbes magazine. Then the publication estimated his fortune at $ 15.4 billion.

In the rating of Forbes magazine, which appeared in the spring, Potanin took the eighth place among Russian businessmen. His fortune was estimated at $ 14.3 billion. The co-owner of Novatek Leonid Mikhelson was at the first place - his publication was estimated at $ 18.4 billion. On November 21, Mordashov was the leader of the Russian list for Forbes, like Bloomberg. Forbes estimated his fortune at $ 17.9 billion. According to Forbes, Potanin had $ 14.9 billion on November 21. This is the sixth line in the Russian part of the rating.