Official says first reports of Norilsk oil spill misrepresent scope

KRASNOYARSK, Jun 5 (PRIME) -- The emergency calling center's and Norilsk-Taimyr Energy Company’s reports about an oil product spill on the power plant in Norilsk did not reflect the scope of damage, head of the regional government Yury Lapshin said on Friday.

“There are nuances we must pay attention to. The story started on May 29, on Friday. The government of the Krasnoyarsk Region received a statement of the emergency calling center in the morning, which did not lead to any conclusions about the scope of the emergency," he said.

A fuel tank at Norilsk-Taimyr Energy Company lost pressure on May 29 and leaked out fuel and lubricants into the river Ambarnaya, causing a fire.

A spokesperson for Norilsk Nickel, the world’s top nickel and PGM producer and the core enterprise in the region, blamed warming of the permafrost, which moved supports under the tank.

On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin introduced a federal emergency due to the accident. He ordered to check the actions of the local authorities for possible law violations due to late informing about the incident.  

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