Water

Targets: maintain recycled water ratio and reduce pollution; continue providing clear water to local communities.

Key next steps: build and run new treatment facilities, adopt new technical solutions, remediate pollution from environmental accidents in line with the Great Norilsk Expedition recommendations.

The Company’s major production assets are located in regions with sufficient water resources. Nonetheless, the Company is extremely careful about its use of fresh water and strictly complies with restrictions applicable to industrial water withdrawal. The Company is committed to sustainable use of water resources and prevention of water body pollution.

Nornickel’s key production facilities use closed water circuits to maintain water withdrawal on a relatively low level. Furthermore, the Company never withdraws water from protected natural areas. In 2020, 86% of all water used by the Company was recycled or reused. Water is mostly withdrawn from surface and underground water bodies as well as from wastewater of other companies and natural water inflow. Natural water inflow and meltwater accounted for 12% of the total water withdrawal in 2020. All facilities using water have programmes in place to monitor water bodies and water protection areas.

Wastewater discharge also does not exceed the approved limits or have any major impact on biodiversity of water bodies and related habitats.

The year-on-year increase in discharge can be explained by the fact that, as of 2020, the Report discloses wastewater discharge to municipal sewage networks.

Water consumption and discharge

Water risk management

The Company also conducts assessments of impact on water resources on an ongoing basis.

The impact on water resources can materially affect the Company’s financial performance.

Procedures used by Nornickel to identify and assess the risks of its impact on water resources include:

  • wastewater inventory
  • monitoring of wastewater discharge volume and quality at discharge sites
  • observation of surface water bodies at control points upstream and downstream of discharge sites
  • investments in improving the performance of water treatment systems and building new systems
  • we also monitor wastewater treatment processes at treatment facilities and take organisational and technical measures to improve treatment effectiveness.
  • Tailings and waste