Russian Miner Nornickel Completing Preparations for Launch of Flagship Environmental Programme

Russian metal producer Nornickel is preparing to launch the first stage of its colossal environmental project, the Sulphur Programme, which aims to drastically reduce emissions in the Arctic city of Norilsk, the company said on Monday.

Key equipment undergoes testing across various facilities, while the central server and control rooms, the entire project’s “brains,” are being set up, it said.

“The first shipment of limestone, essential for neutralising the sulphuric acid produced during sulphur dioxide utilisation, has arrived from the Mokulayevsky mine,” Nornickel said.

The mine’s reserves are enough to meet the project’s demand, with peak annual production of 6.5 million tonnes of limestone expected there.

About 200 workers have been trained to operate in the Sulphur Programme’s sulphuric acid production and neutralisation department at Nadezhda Smelter. As the equipment installation is ongoing, the operational staff are learning the processes they will have to deal with.

Nornickel’s initiative stands out as a state-of-the-art, automated facility. Despite the presence of numerous large-scale units, they will be overseen by both a limited number of on-site specialists and remotely from the primary control room, the company said.

The sulphur dioxide utilisation at Nadezhda Smelter is expected to be launched in several phases and reach a maximum capacity in 2024.