Protecting The Environment
There are plans to close down the outdated production facilities at the Polar Division (on the Taimyr Peninsula), namely the agglomeration plant and the smelting section at the Nikel works, which emit sulphur in "poor" gases that are difficult to utilise in any way. The pyrometallurgical facilities at the Mednii and Nikel works are to be reconstructed, with a considerable amount of sulphur being transformed into "rich" gases of autogenous aggregates, and there is a programme for the construction of facilities that can make use of this sulphur contained in gases resulting from the smelting process. Another approach to solving the problem of reducing the emission of atmospheric pollutants is seen in the company's reduction to the utmost possible degree of sulphur in its smelting processes by changing its approach with regard to its strategy for the mining of ores. This end will be achieved by the replacement of impregnated ore with cuprous ore, and the implementation of a method of extracting greater quantities of the sulphur-containing mineral - pirrotin - in the final tailings. In order to reduce the level of harmful pollutants and to substantially improve the ecological situation at MMC Kola, on the Kola Peninsula, MMC Norilsk Nickel is working together with the Norwegian government on a project for the reconstruction of the Pechenganikel Combine's smelting operations. The overall cost of the this programme has been calculated to be US $91.5 million, of which US $30 million is being provided in the form of a grant from the Norwegian government, US $30 million in the form of deferred credit from the Nordik Bank, and the remainder being provided by MMC Norilsk Nickel itself. According to MMC Norilsk Nickel's evaluation, these steps will lead to a reduction of atmospheric emissions of sulphur dioxide on the Taimyr Peninsula of 70 per cent by 2010. On the Kola Peninsula, sulphur dioxide emissions will be reduced by more than 90 per cent by the middle of 2006 (as compared with present levels). The group is following the recommendations of the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution. The task of reducing the level of MMC Kola's sulphur dioxide emissions, which was set by the Commission, is being carried out significantly ahead of the proposed schedule. The company also plans to introduce a system of sewage purification, which will lead to a reduction in its requirement for fresh water. There are plans to bring a system of water recycling into operation, and to completely eliminate the emission of sewage on the Taimyr Peninsula. In 2002, MMC Norilsk Nickel launched a programme aimed at the implementation of an integrated system of quality control and environmental protection at its main administrative and production facilities, which conforms to the international ISO standards 9001:2000 and 14001:1996. The implementation process of this integrated system at MMC Norilsk Nickel and MMC Kola has been completed in 2005. The consultant that has been chosen to work on this programme is Bureau Veritas Rus, the official representative in Russia of the company Bureau Veritas. MMC Norilsk Nickel's interests are not merely limited to the refinement of its approach to resolving the ecological problems concerning its industrial operations - the company is also developing its cooperation with the Lapland Highlands and Taiga National Park, the Putoran state nature reserve, and supports organisations engaged in the preservation of the biological diversity on the Taimyr and Kola peninsulas. |
The fundamental principle of MMC Norilsk Nickel's activities in the ecological sphere is the sourcing and implementation of the technology and methods that enable the company to minimise the effects of its mining, smelting and production activities on the environment. One of the most important tasks that the company sets itself is the reduction of harmful atmospheric emissions and the improvement of the ecological situation on the Taimyr and Kola peninsulas. In particular, the strategy for the development of production to the year 2015 that has been approved by the Board of Directors proposes a series of measures that are aimed at resolving ecological issues. 
