UPDATE: Court orders Norilsk to pay 146 bln rbl for fuel spill

(Adds company’s response in paragraphs 3–4)

MOSCOW, Feb 5 (PRIME) -- The Arbitration Court of the Krasnoyarsk Region has almost completely satisfied the suit of the Federal Service for Natural Resources Oversight against metals giant Norilsk Nickel, obliging the company to pay 146.2 billion rubles for a fuel spill, according to the information obtained by PRIME at the court on Friday.

“To satisfy the suit and to impose a penalty of 146 billion and 177 million rubles,” Judge Natalya Varygina said during the court hearing.

The company said in a statement it will study the decision after it receives the full document from the court, and that it has a month to appeal against the ruling.

“In accordance with the Russian legislation, the decision comes in force a month after it is produced in full if no one appeals against it. Norilsk Nickel will study the court’s ruling carefully after it receives the full text,” the company said.

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

(75.7293 rubles – U.S. $1)

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