A Russian government commission has proposed introducing a 5% duty rate on nickel exports from December 1, the government website said according to RIA Novosti.
Russia first introduced duty on raw nickel exports at 5% in 2007, but cancelled it in early 2009. The government is now considering reintroducing the tariff to support the state budget.
The Finance Ministry has estimated that the charge could yield up to 4.5 billion rubles ($149.6 million) in annual budget revenue.
Russia's Norilsk Nickel, the world's largest nickel and palladium producer, sold 229,000 metric tons of the metal last year, down 2% against 2007.
Nickel is currently traded on the London Metals Exchange (LME) at some $16,000 per metric ton.