Spokesperson says watchdog had no reason to check Norilsk fuel tank

inspector had no reason or grounds to check a reservoir with fuel on the TETs-3 power plant in Norilsk, spokesman for the authority Andrei Vil told reporters late on Tuesday, when the Investigative Committee started a negligence case against a service official.

"The inspector had no legal grounds or reasons to check the reservoir, which, in accordance with the documented data, was in repairs, and an expert report is not a notification of the start of cistern use," Vil said.

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

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dmitry Kobylkin said that the final volume of damage from the accident will be assessed only after full liquidation of the consequences.

End %%mk/jst%%