MMC Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel), the world’s largest producer of palladium and high-grade nickel and one of the largest producers of platinum and copper, says its Kola Division is installing new electrolysis baths at the electrowinning plant. The company will install a total of 60 new baths, which have been purchased for RUB135 million ($1.83 million). The new baths will replace the old ones that were installed back in 2006-2007. The old tanks have reached the end of their service life. Replacing the equipment will minimise production losses and reduce costs.

The new baths are made of polymer concrete. They have a large internal volume and are extremely durable. Of the planned 60 baths, 25 have already been replaced. The work is expected to be fully completed by October 2021. Next year, another 90 baths in the nickel electrowinning plant will be replaced.

In June, Nornickel started producing carbon-neutral nickel. Carbon neutrality of nickel was made possible thanks to the company’s steps to cut greenhouse gas (CO₂) emissions at all stages of the production chain, from underground ore mining to processing and refining. Low carbon footprint has been achieved mainly through the upgrade of the hydro power plant that feeds Nornickel’s production facilities in the Norilsk Industrial District.

Nornickel has invested in energy modernisation facilities, including the replacement of hydroelectric units at the Ust-Khantaiskaya hydro power plant. The share of renewable sources has thus increased in the company’s energy mix to 55% for the Norilsk Industrial District and 46% for the group.

Other steps to mitigate carbon footprint include the upgrade and repair of power equipment, rollout of the automated control and metering system, reduction of heat losses in buildings and pipelines, and decommissioning of obsolete power units. Nornickel expects to shortly receive conclusions from international accredited auditors confirming the methodology used to calculate the carbon footprint of nickel produced at Kola MMC (also known as the Kola Division) in Russia’s northwest and start shipping the new batch to consumers.

Evgeny Borzenko, Nornickel Head of Kola Division, commented: “We are pleased to announce the launch of the first batch of carbon-neutral nickel production. This metal was made possible not through the purchase of CO₂ emission offsets, but through the company’s efforts to reduce emissions. This once again proves that our company is committed to the global environmental agenda. It is important for us that the effect of measures to reduce CO₂ emissions is not a one-time effect, but a cumulative reduction of the harmful load on the environment.”