Norilsk Nickel's Co-owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, has announced he will sell his shares in the company and leave the mining firm.

Mr Prokhorov has revealed that he is intending to leave Norilsk so that he can concentrate on the establishment of a new alternative energy firm.

It is understood that Mr Prokhorov will sell his shares to Co-owner Vladimir Potanin and experts have suggested that the move could result in the Russian government taking a bigger role in the running of the mining giant.

Rob Edwards, Director of Metals Research at Renaissance Capital, told Reuters: "I firmly believe this is step one of a two-step process for a further change in ownership at some stage in the future."

Meanwhile, Roland Nash, Chief Strategist at Renaissance Capital, told Bloomberg that the move could see Mr Potanin sell the firm to a state-friendly company. "One of the most politically aware oligarchs in the country is now in charge of a strategic asset," he added.

Parent company Interros confirmed the departure, adding that Mr Potanin would acquire Mr Prokhorov's shares as part of the deal.

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