Russian Nickel and Palladium producer Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel) will invest more than 123 billion rubles ($1.9 billion) in cutting emissions at its enterprises in Norilsk under the Clean Air federal project, TASS news agency reports.
The investments will be made over the next four years under the company’s Northern Project, Nornickel’s Vice President Dmitry Pristanskov told reporters at the Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum on Friday.
In December, the Russian government adopted a plan to cut emissions in Norilsk, the company’s representative said.
“In the implementation of the federal project, we shall invest to 2023 more than 123 billion rubles to cut emissions of the main pollutant – Sulphur dioxide – by 75% in 2023,” he said, adding the investments would be made under the company’s Northern Project.
Russia’s First Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Denis Khramov told the forum that complex projects to cut emissions under the Clean Air federal project are offered in 12 cities across the country, including in Norilsk.
“Under the federal project, most activities are paid from extra-budget sources, directly by enterprises,” the official said.
On Thursday, Nornickel’s president Vladimir Potanin said the company will invest up to 90 billion rubles ($1.4 billion) over the next four years in two separate major projects.
The expansion and reconstruction of the Talnakh concentrator and development of the South Cluster projects come as the company expects to increase its production of base and platinum group metals (PGMs).
Nornickel will invest 40 billion ($616 million) to expand the Talnakh concentrator to increase its throughput capacity to 18 million tons a year from the existing ten million tons, Potanin said.
