Nikel plant pollution increasing
Recent studies show increased downfall of heavy metals from the melting plant in the Russian border town of Nikel. Norwegian authorities will now intensify monitoring of the emissions.
Studies performed by the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT) have shown that the downfall of copper, nickel and arsenic has been between four to seven times higher in the 2004-2008-period, than in the previous 15 years. The increase is both on the Russian and the Norwegian side of the border.
The polluting Nikel melting plant and its owner the Norilsk Nickel company have been criticised by Norwegian authorities for more than 20 years. The Norwegian government has also granted money which can be used to rebuild the smelter to stop the emissions, but so far no improvements have been done at the plant in Nikel.
Ellen Hambro at SFT says in a press release that it is very unfortunate that the pollution from the Nikel plant continues. While waiting for the Russians to solve the problem, the SFT will intensify their monitoring, and make sure that all consequences of the pollution is thoroughly documented. SFT will now focus their studies on why the emissions have increased.
