Russia's vast control of metals worries analysts

A surge in the metals industry and vast control of resources by Russia causes some analysts to be concerned. They worry that Russian leaders might use its mineral wealth as a political weapon. Russia's dominance in metals is clear: Norilsk Nickel, owned by Russian billionaires Vladimir Potanin and Mikhail Prokhorov, control half of the world's output of palladium and one-fifth of its output of nickel. More than 12% of global aluminium output is produced by the privately owned UC Russian Aluminum - the world's biggest producers. Russia�s state-owned mines and storages hold 20% of the world's uranium, more than any other country, and state arms exporter Rosoboronexport owns a mining company that is the world�s biggest producer of titanium.