Nornickel has reported the initial success of its Sulphur Programme at the Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant in Norilsk, with significant reductions in sulphur dioxide emissions. Since the programme’s inception in October 2023, there has been a disposal of over 40,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide from the plant’s off-gases, marking a notable achievement in the project’s early phase.
The Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources (Rosprirodnadzor) has verified these results, with the State Centre of Laboratory Analysis and Technical Metrology for the Siberian Federal District confirming the high efficiency rate of 99.6% for the programme’s first processing line.
According to Galina Velyuzhinets, Head of Industrial Ecology at Nornickel’s Polar Branch, the period since launch has also seen the production of 55,000 tonnes of sulphuric acid and 80,000 tonnes of gypsum slurry, by-products of the process that indicate both the programme’s efficiency and its contribution to reducing environmental impact.
With the project’s second and third processing lines slated for comprehensive testing by the end of 2024, Nornickel is leveraging the experience gained from the initial launch to enhance the efficiency of these subsequent phases. Nearly 400 Nornickel employees and over 1,500 contractor personnel are involved in this ambitious project, which aims to significantly reduce emissions in one of Russia’s major industrial regions.
Stanislav Seleznev, Vice President for Ecology and Industrial Safety at Nornickel, highlighted the project’s alignment with the Clean Air federal project goals. With an anticipated 20% reduction in emissions as early as this year, the Sulphur Programme is expected to play a critical role in improving air quality in Norilsk and contribute to broader environmental objectives for major industrial cities across the country. 
