OREANDA-NEWS. July 20, 2011. OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (hereinafter referred to as MMC Norilsk Nickel or the Company) informs of the completion of visit to Murmansk region of the international group of ecologists comprising representatives of Barents Euro-Arctic countries, which are members of Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO). The comprehensive analysis of Kola MMC (subsidiary of MMC Norilsk Nickel) environmental activities and the visit to industrial area in Monchegorsk resulted in the decision to change the ecological status of the city, reported the press-centre of Norilsk Nickel.

The delegation that visited Murmansk region included representatives of GreenBusiness (Sweden), Barents division of World Wildlife Fund, Norwegian state agency for control over climatic changes and pollution, and international trouble spot task team of the Finnish consulate. The specialists made on-the-spot assessment of MMC Norilsk Nickel activities related to the decrease of production impact on the environment.

In particular, the ecologists underlined that Kola MMC production facilities have not been breaching the emission limits for eight years. Moreover, the amount of emissions has been decreasing continuously. For instance, SO2 emissions decreased from 232 thousand tons (1990) to 33 thousand tons (2010).

Kola MMC initiated reclamation and rehabilitation of lands damaged by industrial production in 2003. The significant number of the plants took hold and that was yet another proof of the environmental improvement for the specialists.

The possibility of exclusion of Monchegorsk from the list of trouble spots was discussed by the parties in the Murmansk region government. The discussion ended with a resolution to change the status of the city from “red” (considerable industrial damage to the environment) to “yellow” (minor negative industrial influence on the environment). It was suggested that the Company furthers its environmental activities so that the city is removed from the list of ecological trouble spots at all. According to experts, this could happen in 2012–2013 already.