Norilsk Nickel to hold independent environmental check

MOSCOW, Jul 22 (PRIME) -- Russian metals giant Norilsk Nickel has hired ERM to do an independent check of the diesel fuel spill at the thermal power plant in Norilsk, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

“In order to conduct an independent inspection connected to the diesel fuel spill at the TETs-3, we have chosen a world-class company ERM, a company that specializes in environmental consulting,” the statement read.

ERM will prepare an independent review for Norilsk Nickel’s working group on environment and ecology, and assess other aspects of Norilsk Nickel’s impact on the environment.

A fuel tank at Norilsk-Taimyr Energy Company, part of Norilsk Nickel group, lost pressure on May 29 and leaked out 21,000 tonnes of fuel and lubricants into the river Ambarnaya, causing a fire. The Federal Service for Natural Resources Oversight assessed the damage inflicted on the environment by the spill at 147.7 billion rubles earlier in July, but Norilsk Nickel disputed the amount of damage.

(70.9668 rubles – U.S. $1)

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