In order to protect the environment, MMC Norilsk Nickel has been upgrading its existing production facilities, introducing new technologies and implementing environmental protection projects. Between 2004 and 2011 it allocated over RUB90 billion for ecological issues in capital expenditure and expenditures on refurbishment, modernisation and servicing environmental protection equipment. Over RUB16 billion was allocated towards environmental protection in 2011.In recent years, good progress has been made with regards to reducing the volume of major pollutants discharged into the atmosphere. Emissions produced by the Polar division in 2011 were 1.8% below maximum permitted levels. Sulphur 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 modernisation and repairs to existing gas treatment units.
Reconstruction of the 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 reconstruct the 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 minimise adverse effects on bodies of water, including construction of 11 wastewater treatment units. Construction works on four facilities are already complete. Implementation of these activities enables the company to process approximately 4 million m3/y of waste water, reducing the amount of discharged unprocessed wastewater by 12%.
In 2011, wastewater production was reduced by 762,000 m3. 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 use dumped tailings it the excavated areas of Talnah mines. In October, 2011, the first facility, using Talnah concentrator’s tailings at the Komsomolskiy mine started operating at full capacity, which will enable the company to use approximately 250,000 m3/y of concentration waste products (or 220,000/y) 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 utilisation.