BarentsObserver reported last week that Norway had paid NOK 20,6 million (€2,4 million) for the modernization of the new briquetting prcess in Zapolyarny on the Kola Peninsula with the aim to reduce the emission of sulphur dioxide (SO2). But, since Norilsk-Nickel has said they will not fulfill the agreement on cleaning the emission also from the smelter in the neighboring Nikel the SO2 pollution there will increase with nearly the same amount as the decrease from Zapolyarny.
Commenting on the news, State Secretary Heidi Sørensen says to the Norwegian newswire NTB: -This is a challenge we have been aware of. We have by several occasions said to the Russians that we can’t consider the improvements in Zapolyarny isolated without taking actions to improve the environmental situation also in Nikel, Ms. Sørensen said.
- We will continue to stress that the situation regarding the pollution from Nikel is unsatisfactory. This is primarily the responsibility of the company that definitively has the means to clean their own emissions. But, also the Russian Federal authorities have a responsibility to impose environmental demands to the company, Sørensen says to NTB.
