R&D center

Polyus established its research and development centre in 2004 in the city of Krasnoyarsk to support its exploration, mining and ore processing activities. The centre employed 65 researchers and other staff as at 31 December 2009. The centre uses technologically advanced instruments, including an atomic-emission spectrometer, a spectrophotometer and an atomicabsorption spectrometer, and comprises the following laboratories:

• Mineralogical laboratory, which studies ores from the deposits to which the Polyus Gold Group holds licences to optimise exploration, production and ore processing. This laboratory accumulates data on mineral and chemical composition, the structural and textural particularities of bed rocks and ores, the behaviour of ores during processing and gold extraction rates.
• Laboratory of geomechanics and engineering, which develops technologies for mining, mine engineering and mine construction. Its activities include the study of the physical and technological properties of rocks and soils and the evaluation of the stability of pit benches and walls. This laboratory is developing a proprietary database to record the physical and technological parameters of ores and rocks from the deposits to which the Polyus Gold Group holds licences.
• Ore-processing laboratory, which is one of the core divisions of the research and development centre. It develops flotation, gravitational enrichment, magnetic separation, concentration, filtration and other technologies for ore processing.
• Laboratory of hydrometallurgy, which develops complex ore processing technologies and equipment utilizing leaching, absorption, and thermal treatment. This laboratory also develops new absorption chemicals and alternative non-cyanide leaching agents, as well as waste treatment and refinement technologies.
• Analytical laboratory, which specialises in the evaluation of the gold and precious metal content in ores, ore concentrates and ore treatment products, as well as the development of precise measurement technologies.
• In addition, the Polyus Gold Group has a laboratory of pyrometallurgical processes. This laboratory focuses on the development of technologies for thermal ore treatment to minimise the impact on the environment of those operations.

The Company seeks to timely register its copyrights on all its inventions by getting the appropriate patents and certificates, to ensure the solid technological platform for its operations in the long run.

In 2009, the Company's intellectual property consisted of 43 elements:

• 20 patents for various inventions;
• 18 patent for useful models;
• 2 certificates for software systems;
• 1 certificate for database;
• 2 certificates for trademarks.