OREANDA-NEWS. April 12, 2012. OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (hereinafter - MMC Norilsk Nickel or the Company) announces the results of environmental protection activities carried out by the Company’s Polar Division in 2011, reported the press-centre of Norilsk Nickel.

In order to protect the environment, MMC Norilsk Nickel upgrades its existing production facilities, introduces new technologies and implements environmental protection projects. Between 2004 and 2011 MMC Norilsk Nickel allocated over RUB 90 bn. on dealing with ecological issues, which includes environmental protection capital expenditures and expenditures corresponding to refurbishment, modernization and servicing environmental protection equipment. Over RUB 16 bn. was allocated towards environmental protection in 2011.

In recent years, good progress was made with regards to reducing the volume of major pollutants discharged into the atmosphere.

Emissions produced by the Company’s Polar division in 2011 were 1.8% below maximum permitted levels. Sulfur dioxide and solid particle emissions were 1.4% and 23.3% below the cap respectively.

Solid particle emissions were reduced by 4.1%, compared to 2010, due to implementation of activities, concerning modernization and repairs of existing gas treatment units.

Reconstruction of gas treatment system of electric furnace No.4 at Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant (NMP) was completed in 2011 as part of the air quality improvement program. Currently, electric filter of the grate refrigerator of concrete production facility’s clinker line is being substituted for a new, more efficient bag filter, with filtering elements pulse-cleaning system.

In 2012, it is planned to carry out reconstruction of gas treatment systems of electric furnace No.2 at NMP, replacing existing equipment with more efficient items.

Over 20 activities were implemented 2011 in order to minimize adverse effects on the water bodies, including construction of 11 wastewater treatment units. Construction works on 4 objects are already completed.  Implementation of these activities enables the Company to process approximately 4 mil. m3 of wastewater per annum,  reducing the amount of discharged unprocessed wastewater by 12%. In 2011, wastewater production was reduced by 762 th. m3 per annum.  It is planned to build 20 local purification units between 2012 and 2014, which will result in almost sixfold reduction of corresponding pollutant discharge volumes.

The Company is currently implementing a project aiming to utilize concentration dump tailings at the excavated areas of Talnah mines. In October, 2011, the 1st facility, utilizing Talnah Concentrator’s dump tailings at the Komsomolskiy mine started operating at full capacity, which will enable the Company to use approximately 250 th. m3 of concentration waste products per annum (or 220 th. tons per annum) to backfill the mine’s excavated areas. Changing the facility’s working schedule to ensure its  operation  24 hours a day, will allow the Company to triple the amount of such waste material utilization.