Soil protection and responsible mining
Land protection
To reduce the negative impact of its operations on soil, Nornickel carries out progressive reclamation of land affected by deposit development For the full list of deposits, please see the Norilsk Nickel Group Profile section., waste disposal, construction, and other actvities.
Design documentation has been drawn up for the development, construction, and operation of deposits, including:
- an environmental impact assessment
- a list of measures to prevent and/or mitigate potential negative effects on the environment and ensure sustainable use of natural resources throughout the deposit life cycle.
Nornickel ensures full compliance with applicable Russian environmental legislation during deposit development and related activities. The Company also monitors environmental conditions throughout the entire life cycle of the deposit. Upon completion of deposit development, the Company commits to decommission mine workings and rehabilitate lands For a more detailed list of environmental protection measures taken during the deposit life cycle, please see Nornickel’s 2023 Sustainability Report..
| Indicator | Total | Including: | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| during mining | during construction | during disposal of industrial and municipal solid waste | during other activities | ||
| Total disturbed land area, beginning of period | 17,164 | 14,312 | 1,262 | 874 | 716 |
| Total rehabilitated area | 71 | 7 | 0 | — | 64 |
| Total disturbed land area in the reporting period | 199 | 49 | 23 | 127 | — |
| Total disturbed land area, end of period | 17,292 | 14,354 | 1,286 | 1,001 | 652 |
Reforestation
In 2024, Nornickel continued its reforestation efforts, planting 87 ha of pine trees in the Sivyakovskoye Forestry of the Trans‑Baikal Territory. This brought the total reforested area to 480 ha, including previous periods. All planted forest crops are maintained with silvicultural treatments for three years. A total of 112 ha of crops planted in the Verkhne‑Chitinskoye Forestry in previous years underwent silvicultural treatments.
Completion of rehabilitation at CHPP‑3
In 2023, the Company completed the rehabilitation of land contaminated by the fuel spill at CHPP‑3 and disturbed during clean‑up activities. The Company undertook to remedy any identified defects during the warranty period and to conduct a re‑inspection in the absence of snow cover.
A follow‑up examination of rehabilitated land conducted by an independent entity in 2024 confirmed that the chemical and physical soil indicators met quality standards and requirements of Russian laws. Nornickel plans to monitor this area in the coming years and assess how land rehabilitation efforts contribute to improving vegetation and soil conditions.
Responsible exploration
To replenish its resource base, Nornickel carries out a range of exploration activities, including geophysical and geochemical surveys, as well as drilling at prospective sites within the Company’s existing footprint.
Nornickel sees a significant potential for the discovery of new deposits and therefore plans to continue exploration both within and beyond its footprint to unlock it.
13 exploration projects were completed by the Company in 2024
Field exploration activities with environmental impact were carried out across three projects:
- 2 projects in the Norilsk Industrial District
- 1 project in the Murmansk Region
| Area/Deposit | Location | Key types of minerals |
|---|---|---|
| Mikchangdinskaya area | Taimyrsky Dolgano‑Nenetsky Municipal District, Krasnoyarsk Territory | Copper‑nickel sulphide ores |
| Arylakhskaya area | Taimyrsky Dolgano‑Nenetsky Municipal District, Krasnoyarsk Territory | Copper‑nickel sulphide ores |
| Mezhdurechenskaya (Yuzhno‑Norilskaya)Initial phase; exploration is scheduled for 2025. | Taimyrsky Dolgano‑Nenetsky Municipal District, Krasnoyarsk Territory | Copper‑nickel sulphide ores |
| Western flank of the Oktyabrskoye deposit | Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory | Copper‑nickel sulphide ores |
| Southern flanks of the Talnakhskoye deposit | Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory | Copper‑nickel sulphide ores |
| Lake Baryernoye | Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory | Metal‑containing sediments |
| Kolmozerskoye depositLicence to use subsoil for the exploration and production of mineral resources was received in 2023 by a joint venture of MMC Norilsk Nickel and a partner. | Lovozersky District, Murmansk Region | Beryllium, niobium, lithium, lithium‑containing ore, tantalum |
| Bystrinsko‑Shirinskoye depositInitial phase; exploration is scheduled for 2025. | Trans‑Baikal Territory, Gazimuro‑Zavodsky Municipal District | Ore gold |
| Alenuyskaya area | Alexandrovo‑Zavodsky District, Trans‑Baikal Territory | Gold‑copper porphyry ores |
| Mostovskaya area | Mogochinsky District, Trans‑Baikal Territory | Gold‑silver ores, copper ore, molybdenum ore |
| Shamyanskaya area | Zabaikalsky District, Trans‑Baikal Territory | Gold, copper‑molybdenum ore |
| Dogyinskaya area | Gazimuro‑Zavodsky District, Trans‑Baikal Territory | Gold‑copper ores, gold‑silver ores |
| Chuvanskaya area | Anadyrsky District, Chukotka Autonomous District, Kamchatka Territory | Gold‑copper porphyry ores |
The Group’s exploration activities are governed by Russian regulations covering subsoil use, environmental protection, industrial and fire safety, and occupational hygiene. During exploration, Nornickel also conducts an internal assessment of its environmental protection obligations based on the requirements of applicable laws in various jurisdictions, terms of licence agreements, and internal engineering estimates, as interpreted by the Company’s management.
Environmental monitoring
To evaluate, monitor, and predict the environmental conditions under each project, the Company assesses the environmental setting at both the start and completion of exploration activities. The purpose of the assessment is to obtain and record reliable indicators characterising the natural environmental setting prior to the commencement of exploration.
The scope of such environmental setting assessment includes:
- analysis of available geological, geochemical, hydrogeological, hydrometeorological, and environmental data
- identification of disturbed lands through the analysis of aerial and satellite images and ground surveys
- sampling of environmental media (soil, surface water, bottom sediments, vegetation, background radiation)
- establishment of monitoring sites for hazardous exogenous geological processes.
The results of these studies inform the assessment of the environmental impact of exploration activities. Exploration is accompanied by annual monitoring of environmental media, including surface waters and snow cover, along with observations of hazardous exogenous geological processes. Through such monitoring, Nornickel identifies and assesses the impact of exploration on ecosystems, supporting informed management decisions on environmental protection and ensuring the environmental safety of indigenous livelihoods.
Alongside the monitoring, the Company implements a set of measures to protect subsoil, soil, vegetation, and water bodies. Upon completion of drilling, disturbed land undergoes rehabilitation, including the decommissioning of drilling sites, neutralisation of soil contaminated with fuel and lubricants, land levelling and restoration to a condition suitable for its intended use.
