Sustainable development in an era of change
2025-07-07 19:54
Report
Russia
Governance
At the end of May, Nornickel officially released its 2024 Sustainability Report. Together with the flagship report, specialized reports on climate change, responsible supply chains, and human rights were also released.
Let's be clear about cleanliness
In 2024, the company's Environmental Strategy was divided into two sections: required and optional scopes.
A mandatory one is aimed at complying with the requirements of Russian legislation. It has nine target indicators and over 300 activities. Of these, 130 have been implemented, and the rest are in progress. An optional component of the strategy is something that the company considers important and implements at its own discretion. It includes six target indicators.
The Sulfur Program has been Nornickel's most ambitious environmental initiative since 2023. Its implementation contributed significantly to the completion of the Clean Air Federal Project within the framework of the Ecological Well-being National Project. In 2024, we had to get rid of 377,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, but actually disposed of 390,000 tons.
A mandatory one is aimed at complying with the requirements of Russian legislation. It has nine target indicators and over 300 activities. Of these, 130 have been implemented, and the rest are in progress. An optional component of the strategy is something that the company considers important and implements at its own discretion. It includes six target indicators.
The Sulfur Program has been Nornickel's most ambitious environmental initiative since 2023. Its implementation contributed significantly to the completion of the Clean Air Federal Project within the framework of the Ecological Well-being National Project. In 2024, we had to get rid of 377,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, but actually disposed of 390,000 tons.
Two lines of the Sulfur Program are currently running steadily, and once it is fully operational, emissions from the Nadezhda Smelter Plant will drop by 90%.
In 2024, the company opened in Norilsk its first gas-filling station in the Far North. Some of the company's freight vehicles are now running on methane. This will let us use gas resources in the region more efficiently and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through lower liquid fuel consumption.
In 2024, the company opened in Norilsk its first gas-filling station in the Far North. Some of the company's freight vehicles are now running on methane. This will let us use gas resources in the region more efficiently and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through lower liquid fuel consumption.
Furthermore, in 2024, Nornickel launched the first integrated real-time air quality monitoring system in the Arctic Circle. The system keeps track of the acceptable levels for four main pollutants. Any resident of the city can review the indicators on the норильск.рф website.
The Clean Norilsk Program is still going ahead. It's focused on taking down abandoned industrial sites. In 2024, RUB 2.7 bn out of RUB 40 bn allocated for this ten-year program was spent. More than 400 buildings have already been dismantled, and over 1 million tons of construction waste have been crushed into rubble. All waste, including scrap non-ferrous metals, is sorted and sent for further processing.
The Clean Norilsk Program is still going ahead. It's focused on taking down abandoned industrial sites. In 2024, RUB 2.7 bn out of RUB 40 bn allocated for this ten-year program was spent. More than 400 buildings have already been dismantled, and over 1 million tons of construction waste have been crushed into rubble. All waste, including scrap non-ferrous metals, is sorted and sent for further processing.
After dismantling the buildings, the soil is recultivated, vegetated, and forest plantations are restored. Last year, more than 235 hectares were revitalized through this process.
STANISLAV SELEZNEV,
Nornickel Vice President for HSE:
"Many people still believe that Norilsk is a very dirty city. However, only those who have never been to Norilsk or visited it 20 years ago think so. The situation has changed dramatically since then. In 2016, the company closed the nickel plant located right in the city, launched the Sulfur Program, and started monitoring.
Sure, Norilsk is still an industrial city, the Sulfur Program isn't completely rolled out yet, and the monitoring system sometimes shows deviations from the green zone. But we, like all residents, see positive dynamics. We are confident that soon the environmental situation in Norilsk will be the same as in cities without industrial facilities."
Man is above everything else
A significant part of the Sustainability Report focuses on the people who work with the company and live in the cities of its operations. In 2024, a three-year Human Capital Development Strategy was adopted for the period up to 2026.
Key tracks of the strategy:
Numerous initiatives are underway in each of these three areas. In 2024, participants in the Your Home Program received 240 apartments. The Made with Care Project has improved labor conditions for nearly 12,000 people through the renovation of 187 social and residential facilities with a total area of 25,000 m2.
Nornickel's spending on social programs and benefits remained at the 2023 level and amounted to RUB 16.5 bn. The largest share is spent on travel and luggage transportation, sanatorium and resort treatment for employees, and voluntary medical insurance.
The second module linked to the length of service was launched under the unique Digital Investor Program. Employees with at least one year of service are eligible to receive digital financial assets. The company's financial performance has become a topic of personal interest for all employees, not just top management.
An integrated program Mom at Work has been launched to support families. A special resource contains all information about Nornickel's social package, corporate programs, training courses, and opportunities for raising children.
Key tracks of the strategy:
- Continuous employee development system;
- Building a culture of efficiency and readiness for changes; and
- Social support and financial incentives.
Numerous initiatives are underway in each of these three areas. In 2024, participants in the Your Home Program received 240 apartments. The Made with Care Project has improved labor conditions for nearly 12,000 people through the renovation of 187 social and residential facilities with a total area of 25,000 m2.
Nornickel's spending on social programs and benefits remained at the 2023 level and amounted to RUB 16.5 bn. The largest share is spent on travel and luggage transportation, sanatorium and resort treatment for employees, and voluntary medical insurance.
The second module linked to the length of service was launched under the unique Digital Investor Program. Employees with at least one year of service are eligible to receive digital financial assets. The company's financial performance has become a topic of personal interest for all employees, not just top management.
An integrated program Mom at Work has been launched to support families. A special resource contains all information about Nornickel's social package, corporate programs, training courses, and opportunities for raising children.
Attracting talented young professionals is one of the company's challenges. The youth program was launched several years ago. It comprises educational projects and the development of a community of like-minded individuals. In 2024, 175 students were enrolled in the new Kola Mining and Metallurgical Educational and Production Center in Monchegorsk. 85% of them plan to seek employment with the company. A joint master's program in “AI in Industry” has been launched by Norilsk Nickel and Central University.
821 students completed internships at the company's facilities, and 574 people participated in the Profstart and Polar College Projects. Over 50% of students have become Nornickel employees.
821 students completed internships at the company's facilities, and 574 people participated in the Profstart and Polar College Projects. Over 50% of students have become Nornickel employees.
In April 2025, Nornickel was among 25 major companies participating in the Find IT career forum. The forum offered job vacancies and internships for young IT specialists.
A cooperation agreement between the Agoshkov Transbaikal Mining College and Bystrinsky GOK was signed in 2022. The company helped the college set up a surveying class with a lab. More than 150 graduates of the Transbaikal Mining College worked at the mining and processing plant.
Another important area of work is the long-term program to support future engineers and develop engineering potential. More than 2,000 people took part in the ARCTIC WAVE Festival of Scientific Discoveries and Inventions. Over 3,500 schoolchildren presented their first inventions at the year-round IMAKE engineering marathon.
LARISA ZELKOVA,
Senior Vice President, Head of HR and Social Policy and Public Relations:
"We are interested in young people pursuing engineering careers as a life strategy. The Engineer brand now needs to be rebuilt and developed. All manufacturing companies urgently need the same thing. We want to see people coming to Nornickel and working better than us, finding more effective technological and social solutions in response to tough challenges.
We sincerely hope that efforts to develop engineering professionals will result in the training of a worthy successor generation. Our predecessors acted like this for 90 years, and we have taken up the torch from them."
Photos by Nornickel
June, 2025
June, 2025