Norilsk Nickel approved an updated environmental strategy

The press service of Norilsk Nickel reported that the company has approved an updated strategy in the field of ecology and climate change, as well as the main directions for achieving carbon neutrality. Now the strategy is divided into mandatory and voluntary parts.

According to Norilsk Nickel's Vice President for Ecology and Industrial Safety, the updated strategy indicates that the company continues to strictly follow the principles of environmental protection and cultivate a responsible approach to business.

"The environmental strategy has been updated in connection with the changed geopolitical situation and taking into account the company's accumulated experience, stricter requirements of Russian environmental legislation, as well as international standards demanded by buyers of products," the message says.

The mandatory part is aimed at compliance with legal requirements and includes targets in seven main areas: the number of emergencies, air, water, tailings and waste, soil, biodiversity, and exchange requirements.

To achieve these goals, programs have been developed that include more than 150 specific activities. The largest project is the Sulfur Program in Norilsk, which aims to drastically reduce sulfur dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

In addition, an obligatory part of the strategy includes measures for recycling and reuse of water, commissioning and reconstruction of wastewater treatment plants at releases to water bodies, land reclamation, sanitation, and reforestation.

The company plans to monitor environmental components and implement an automatic control system for emissions of pollutants into the atmospheric air. The programs also include an assessment of the impact on biodiversity in all areas affected by the company's activities.

"The voluntary part of the strategy includes optional areas such as waste in terms of increasing the share of recycling, soil, some international initiatives and standards, as well as climate change. There are 187 events in the voluntary part of the strategy. It is planned to clarify the goals in a number of areas in 2024-2025," the press service reported.

In addition, the Board of Directors of Norilsk Nickel approved the main directions of carbon neutrality. They identified key measures aimed at reducing the company's gross greenhouse gas emissions, as well as reducing the carbon footprint in the short, medium and long term.

"The main emphasis is placed on the possibility of developing low-carbon energy sources, climate projects, the use of energy-efficient technologies and equipment, artificial intelligence, and the transfer of transport to alternative fuels," the message says.

In the future, it is planned to work out projects for the capture and burial of CO2, as well as the conclusion of free bilateral contracts for the purchase /sale of electric energy. Currently, Norilsk Nickel, together with the Siberian Federal University, is working on the possibilities of implementing natural and climatic projects in the regions of the company's presence. In addition, the mineralization of waste rock is being studied in order to absorb greenhouse gas emissions from the tailings dumps of the Norilsk Nickel processing plants.