Vladimir Chasovitin, the region's Minister of Ecology, reported that the volume of harmful substances emitted into the air in Norilsk, northern Krasnoyarsk Territory, has now decreased by 221,000 tons. This was reported by TASS.

In October 2023, the Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant in Norilsk launched the first stage of the Sulphur Programme, the flagship project of the city-forming company Norilsk Nickel. The launch went ahead despite the Russian government's option to postpone the environmental project's deadline to 2026. The second line at the plant is scheduled to launch in autumn 2024.

'Norilsk has so far managed to reduce emissions by 221,000 tons—that's 11.8% of the comprehensive plan [to reduce emissions under the federal Clean Air Project]. The company [Nornickel] states that the plan will be completed on schedule,' Chasovitin said.

The company told TASS that the reduction in emissions was due to the launch of the first line of the Sulphur Programme at the Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant. 'We're all eagerly awaiting the launch of the second and third lines, which will reduce emissions by several hundred thousand tonnes as early as next year. The company's stated effect of 900,000 tons is an unprecedented result, which both ecologists and deputies view as a breakthrough in Russia's industrial development history,' Dmitry Sviridov, vice-speaker of the regional parliament, told journalists after the session.

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