OREANDA-NEWS. June 07, 2011. Public hearings were held to evaluate the progresswith regards to theactionslisted in the cooperation Agreement between Federal service for environmental protection (Rosprirodnadzor) and OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (hereinafter- MMC Norilsk Nickel or the Company), reported the press-centre of Norilsk Nickel.

Public hearings were held as part of the business trip of Rosprirodnadzor Public council’s working group,led by Public council representative, Alexander Malyshevsky. The hearings were attended by the representatives of Federal service for environmental protection, Rosprirodnadzor Public council, Rosprirodnadzor’s Siberian district and Krasnoyarsk region branches, Norilsk’s administration, non-profit organizations and regulating authorities, representatives from scientific community and MMC Norilsk Nickel.   

The cooperation Agreement outlining the actions aimed at reduction of the adverse effects associated with discharging pollutants into Norilsk’s atmosphere was concluded between Rosprirodnadzor and MMC Norilsk Nickel in the autumn of 2010.

During the hearings it was noted that in order to preserve the environment MMC Norilsk Nickel is upgrading its production facilities, implementing new technologies and executing environmental protection projects. Between 2004 and 2010 MMCNorilskNickelhasspentover RUB 75 bil.in order to address the environmental issues, which includesspendings on updating the technical capabilities, modernization, servicing the environmental protection equipment, environmental protection capital expenditures. Currently the Company’s environmental protection expenditures have increased to RUB 14 bil. in 2010.  

Actions undertaken by the Company have resulted in a 36 580 ton reduction in the emissions of sulfur dioxide produced by the Polar Division compared to 2009 as well as a total reduction in theweight of polluting substances discharged with wastewater of 2 000 tons.

To fulfill its obligations with regards to reducing the atmospheric pollution MMC Norilsk Nickel has announced that it will hold an international tender in order to find a contractor to implement the latest sulfur dioxide utilization methods. Using the new technologies will allow at least 95% of sulfur dioxide from metallurgy operations’ gases to be utilized. The annual production of commercial sulfur by the Polar Division will exceed 900 thousand tons. In addition this the residual gases will be used to produce sulfuric acid for nickel and copper electrolysis as well as sulfuric solution for the concentration plant. Over 20 companies form 8 countries have expressed their interest in participating in the tender.

Public hearings were also aiming to ensure that the Agreement whereby the Company will provide the necessary current information and carry out the planned activities is sound. At the same time the goal of the Public council was to ensure that the Agreement is being followed, the numbers provided by the Company are accurate and to evaluate the specificactions taken by MMC Norilsk Nickel. Over the course of the contrasting part of the hearing Rosprirodnadzor’s Public council came to the conclusion that in Q1 2011 the Company has carried out the activitiesprovided for in the Agreement on schedule.

According to Mr. Malyshevsky such agreement is unique because it creates an important precedent for the interactions between regulating authorities and business entities and in a broader sense between authorities and business. Because of this, the Agreement will serve as a starting point for reforming the ecological legislation.

According to Director of the Polar Division of MMC Norilsk Nickel Evgeny Muraviev, the Company pays close attention to the environmental protection issues and conducts a number of activities aimed at reducing the environmental impact. During the last three years alone the Polar Division has spent about RUB 38 bil. on financing environmental protection activities. Execution of the planned activities will allow fivefold reduction in sulfur emissions by 2015. AccordingtoMr. Muraviev the agreement will allow further development with regards to overcoming the environmental challenges in Norilsk Industrial Region. He also noted that the Company will do everything it can to fulfill its obligations on the Agreement.