"Abnormal rains became the reason for Daldykan River Case," 12 Sep 2016

In response to the reports made by local media…regarding changes in coloration of the Daldykan river, situated in Norilsk Industrial area, Nornickel declares:

Nornickel has investigated the reasons for temporary color change of Daldykan river…In 2015-2016 the Company modernized tailings dam and tailings pipeline of hydrometallurgical shop of Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant (NMP)…Before a pipe tie-in the standard work procedure requires to drain the whole pipeline with discharge of wash water into tailings dam…On the 5th of September after abnormal heavy rain…the overflow of one of the dikes occurred, and water entered Daldykan river.

Short-term river color staining with iron salts presents no hazards for people and river fauna.
The Company undertakes all necessary actions to assess the areas with the biggest historical pollution and eliminate effects of the old tailings pipeline operation by sanitary stripping of the ground. Nornickel will put the most efforts to avoid such incidents in future.