Alferon Management
Alferon Management Limited of London is a management company responsible for running the International Mineral Resources (IMR) in Kazakhstan. IMR is based in Zurich, and owned by Kazakh businessmen Alexander Mashkevich, Patokh Chodiev (or Shodiev) and Alijan Ibragimov (or Alidzhon Ibragimov).
Alferon Management has acquired many mining operations in different countries such as Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Russia, and Kosovo.
Alexander Mashkevich, Patokh Chodiev and Alijan Ibragimov, better known as the Troika or Trio[1], are major shareholders in Eurasian National Resources Corporation (ENRC), one of the world's leading natural resources groups. ENRC, based in London, operates a number of metals assets in Kazakhstan and Africa, having acquired numerous mining operations in Eastern Europe and Africa. In 2009, ENRC generated a $1,462 million profit on sales of $3.8 billion.
Alferon Management controversially acquired Ferronikeli Complex, LLC, a nickel plant based in Kosovo in 2006.[2] The controversy behind the acquisition stemmed from Alferon receiving the approval on the acquisition from the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) despite the fact that they were not the highest bidder; US- Albanian company, Adi Nickel was the highest bidder offering 49.5 million Euros.[3] Ferki Karaxha, the head of Ferronikeli trade union, also stated that since Adi-Nickel won the first tender, it was not fair to declare IMR a provisional winner.[citation needed]. He also stated that he "has always been against the sale of the company and is convinced that the sale is a great crime against the national economy".[4]
The sale agreement included an investment commitment from IMR-Alferon of €20 million, plus a guarantee to employ at least 1,000 people at Ferronikeli.[citation needed]
Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General (DSRSG), Joachim Ruecker, said the sale sent “a very strong signal to international investors”. Mr Ruecker added: “Kosovo is a stable and mature society, which welcomes international investment.”[5]
Notes
- ^ "Tangled Webs", UK TOP SECRET Postman Patel blog (January 31, 2007)
- ^ "Kosovo: Sale and Handover of Ferronikeli Completed", Economic Initiative for Kosovo (ECiKS) (3 May 2006) | accessed on May 31, 2006
- ^ "Ferronikeli deal struck", The Word Bank Office in Kosovo, Kosovo Monthly Economic Briefing (31 May 2005) | accessed on May 31, 2006
- ^ "Kosovo: ex-employees of Ferronikeli end their protest" ECiKS (18 April 2007)
- ^ "Progress on privatization: Ferronikeli success", Ronan Anderson, Pillar IV, Focus Kosovo, 21st Edition (November-December 2006), UNMIK