OREANDA-NEWS. In line with the fundamental principles of its environmental policy, the Norilsk Mining and Metallurgical Company (MMC Norilsk Nickel) is taking all necessary measures to prevent and reduce its emissions of atmospheric pollutants as well as harmful effluent. 

According to the press service of Norilsk Nickel, in particular, the flash smelting production line facilities at the Nadezhda smelting plant were rebuilt and put into operation.

Also in 2005, the Gipronickel Institute finalised its plans for the reconstruction of its second sulphur production line at the Medny factory, which will, in the course of the next few years, make for a 40 per cent reduction in the level of atmospheric emissions of sulphur dioxide at that particular facility (when compared with the level of emissions in 2005).

In the same year the company increased its use of sulphur from effluent gases resulting from its smelting operations by 4.1 per cent (and by 7.2 per cent at the Medny factory) in comparison with 2004.  Sulphur dioxide emissions per tonne of non-ferrous metals produced were down by 3.8 per cent.  Overall emissions of atmospheric pollutants were reduced by 2.9 per cent in comparison with figures for 2004 (this includes a 2.8 per cent lowering of sulphur dioxide emissions and a 5 per cent reduction in the level of solid waste production).

A whole series of projects were developed in 2005 for the purification of domestic and industrial sewage for the company’s industrial facilities.  The implementation of these projects in the period 2006 – 2008 will lead to an overall reduction of 12 million cubic metres per year in the amount of untreated sewage produced.

The amount of water used for industrial and domestic purposes last year was 5 per cent down on figures for 2004, and overall water drainage was reduced by 1 per cent.  The amount of pollutants emitted in sewage was down by 10 per cent.

2005 was a year that saw the company continue to reduce the harmful effects of its industrial waste on the environment. The total level of waste disposal for 2005 was reduced by 6.4 per cent compared with figures for 2004, despite the fact that the overall level of waste produced in 2005 had increased.