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Cross-border sulphur dioxide

Nikel (Barentsphoto.com)

Kola MMC’s plants near the Norwegian border emitted 97,7 thousand tons of sulphur dioxide in 2008. That is five times more than the entire Norwegian emissions of sulphur dioxide.

Location

Norilsk-Nickel recently published some of their environmental data for 2008 at the company’s own website. The local branch, Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company (Kola MMC), is still emitting huge amounts of sulphur dioxide in the border areas between Norway and Russia.

At the roasting plant in Zapolyarny and the smelter in Nikel the total emission of sulphur dioxide (SO2) was near 100 thousand tons in 2008. Both plants are located some few kilometres from the Norwegian border. Norway’s estimated total emission of sulphur dioxide was 20 thousand tons according to the 2008 statistics from Norwegian Pollution Control Authorities.

The highest concentrations of sulphur dioxide pollution in Norway are found along the border to Russia, as BarentsObserver.com earlier has reported.

From the plants in Monchegorsk, also on the Kola Peninsula, the total emission of sulphur dioxide was 34,3 thousand tons in 2008, according to the company’s own figures. 

Kola MMC writes at their website about their forest rehabilitation programs in the areas adjacent to its production sites. Since 2003, 18,5 hectares of land in the Pechenga district, where the smelter in Nikel and roaster in Zaployarny are located, were recultivated. 81.5 hectares near Monchegorsk 81,5 hectares were recultivated. Total costs of this work reached 65,4 million rubles.

In 2007 Kola MMC produced 7,6 million tons of ore, 116 thousand tons of nickel and 66 thousand tons of copper. Kola Peninsula’s refining capacities at Monchegorsk process both Kola Peninsula high-grade matte and matte received from the Polar Division located in Norilsk on the Taimyr Peninsula, northern Siberia.