OREANDA-NEWS. July 26, 2012. Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, General Director – Chairman of the Management Board of OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (hereinafter – MMC Norilsk Nickel or the Company) signed an understanding memorandum with Gianfelice Rocca, Chairman of "Techint Group" (Italy), reported the press-centre of Norilsk Nickel.   

The Memorandum was signed in the presence of Dmitri Medvedev, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation and Mario Monti, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic.

Earlier, the Company informed that on June 22, 2012 MMC Norilsk Nickel signed contracts with "Techint Compagnia Tecnica Internazionale S.p.A." aiming at a drastic decrease of sulphur dioxide discharges into atmosphere in the context of the program envisaging a gradual decrease of pollutant discharges into atmosphere from metal producing plants located in Norilsk.

Newly created production capacities will guarantee utilization of 95% or more sulphur dioxide from exhaust metal production gases from the Copper plant and Nadezhda plant, producing annually up to 950 thousand tons of sulphur which decreases considerably the atmosphere pollution.

The understanding memorandum suggests a joint effort, exchange of necessary information, experience and technologies to guarantee the contracts execution as well as the development of further long-term mutually beneficial cooperation basis.

According to Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, “the Company is interested in modernization and improvement of production at our plants and in environmental protection accompanied by the introduction of European ecological standards and requirements, hence we hope that the selected company is up to the required professional level to achieve the goals”.

In his turn, Gianfelice Rocca said: “this agreement in the Contracting sector strengthens the global presence of Techint Group which operates also through Tenaris and Tenova in the Russian market. We have invested and worked for 20 years in Russia, a country we consider strategic for our operations. We are delighted to have been chosen for such an important project which will bring significant benefits not only at industrial level but also for the region’s environment and social conditions.”