 
Good afternoon.
We are meeting on Ecologist’s Day.
In this sense, of course, I would like to extend my greetings to you and to all of Russia’s citizens
who devote their lives to protecting nature and the environment.
I want to thank you for your work, primarily, of course, those of you who work in these sphere professionally but also everyone who cares:
scientists, employees of national parks and reserves as well as the Rosprirodnadzor staff – in fact,
all our colleagues who support the continuous and important activities of regional nature protection agencies and environmental organisations.
Of course, our best regards go to our volunteers, activists, nature activists and energetic people who care sincerely about this work.
I see President of Norilsk Nickel Vladimir Potanin next to you. Mr Potanin, you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr President.
The company has mobilized its resources and capabilities under the plan Minister Zinichev has outlined.
We have storage tanks for 16,000 tonnes of collected fuel. Out of this, tanks for 4,500 tonnes have already been delivered and are mounted at the site.
In addition, we have prepared storage for over 100,000 tonnes of collected soil.
So far, we have collected about 7,000 tonnes.
Reclamation of the affected land sections is proceeding on an area of about 6,500 square metres.
Mr Potanin, the willingness of your company to pay for all this is certainly the right step.
What is the estimated cost of all this, in your opinion? Tentatively.
I think it is in the billions of rubles. This is big money.
You know, I am expressing my opinion not as a businessman but as a man who takes this close to heart; we will pay as much as is necessary.
This will be billions upon billions.
I see, but how much do you think it will be as a rough estimate?
I cannot tell about the fines. It is up to them to calculate.
As for expenses, I think it will be as much as 10 billion or more. This is a tentative estimate, Mr President.
My question is not random, Mr Potanin. We have been well acquainted for a long time.
I know that you personally, and I would like to note this, work at the company and not just own a large share.
But look, you have still said that we are talking billions.
How much does one tank you want to replace cost? Approximately.
I cannot say how much one tank costs. Right now, we are looking at hundreds of millions of rubles.
- I believe one tank will cost less.
- Of course, one tank will cost less.
One reservoir where fuel used to be stored costs much less. This is incomparable.
I agree, Mr President.
What is my point, Mr Potanin?
If you had changed them on time, there would have been no environmental damage and no need to foot such costs.
Just look at this carefully in the company. I will elaborate on this further.
I hope that all the work we have just discussed will be carried out effectively through joint efforts.
I have already said, and would like to stress this again, what happened in Norilsk is a federal emergency, as was said yesterday.
It is true that people’s health is under threat and the fragile Arctic nature has suffered significant damage.
It is no coincidence that the General Prosecutor’s Office, as well as the Investigative Committee and investigating bodies, have got involved.
I would like to ask all the agencies that should be directly engaged in this work (in addition to the Emergencies Ministry) to closely monitor the situation.
Of course, we need to find out why this happened, carefully and without compromise, and evaluate the damage.
I have just heard Mr Potanin say the shareholders have to quickly and fully clean up the soil and water pollution,
but I hope that financial issues will be resolved in the way the company head has suggested today.
It is necessary to implement all the compensation measures to restore biodiversity and the environment under the supervision of Rosprirodnadzor specialists.
I am also asking Rosprirodnadzor to carefully analyse the state of similar facilities all across Russia and carry out inspections if necessary,
with the involvement of experts of the Emergencies Ministry and law enforcement bodies.
Finally, I would like to ask the Government and parliament members to complete their work
on principal amendments to environmental legislation that would help prevent such situations in the future.
This must be done as soon as possible, by the end of the current parliamentary session.
