“This is certainly correct”: Putin supported the idea of ​​Norilsk Nickel to eliminate the consequences of the emergency in Norilsk at his own expense

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave instructions to the relevant departments regarding the elimination of the consequences of the diesel spill in Norilsk.

“I ask all structures that should be directly involved in this work to take the situation under full special control. Of course, we need to understand the reasons, carefully and absolutely uncompromisingly, objectively assess the damage, ”the Russian leader said during a meeting with representatives of public organizations operating in the field of ecology and animal protection.

The head of Norilsk Nickel Vladimir Potanin said that the company will fully finance all work to eliminate the consequences of a fuel spill.

“The fact that the company is ready to pay for all these works from its own funds is, of course, correct,” the president emphasized in response. At the same time, he pointed out that both harm to the environment and financial costs could be avoided.

“If we changed it in a timely manner (the tank where the fuel was stored. - RT ), and there would be no environmental damage, and such expenses would not have to be borne by the company,” Putin said.

In addition, the head of state demanded to report what urgent measures were taken to minimize the consequences of the accident.

The head of the Ministry of Emergencies, Yevgeny Zinichev, said that the emergency situation in Norilsk was localized by installing booms, and it will not receive development. He also said that it is impossible to burn the fuel collected after the incident for environmental reasons, in connection with which the oil products will be collected and exported over time.

“As for the export, since the containers are airtight, it is supposed to collect everything, store it here until the winter roads are organized and the equipment comes in and takes it out quietly,” he said.

Putin also once again pointed out the need to carry out effective work to eliminate emergency situations, reiterating that the incident is an emergency of federal scale that threatened human health and seriously damaged the nature of the Arctic zone.

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The head of state instructed that all compensatory measures to restore biodiversity and the environment be carried out under the supervision of Rosprirodnadzor specialists, and also asked the department to analyze the status of similar facilities throughout the country. In addition, he set the government the task of making the necessary changes to environmental legislation.

“I ask the government, together with parliamentarians, to complete work on introducing fundamental changes to environmental legislation that will prevent such situations in the future. This needs to be done in the very near future - before the end of the current parliamentary session, ”the president said.

Earlier, the Ministry of Emergencies noted that the diesel spill at the accident site in Norilsk was localized, more than 200 tons of oil products were collected at the scene of the incident. The department said that 100 employees of the Siberian Rescue Center, as well as rescuers of Rosmorrechflot, were involved in clearing the soil and the river.

“In the near future, the Gazpromneft emergency rescue team will arrive. The rescue team is planned to be increased to 500 specialists. Rescuers will provide the necessary assistance to the region until the consequences of the emergency are completely eliminated, ”the ministry said.

Recall that an incident with a fuel spill occurred at TPP-3 of Norilsk-Taimyr Energy Company JSC on May 29. As a result of damage to one of the tanks, more than 20 thousand tons of fuel leaked. According to preliminary data, the bottom of the tank was damaged due to sagging soil.

After the incident, three criminal cases were opened under three articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation: the 254th (damage to the land), 246th (violation of environmental protection rules during work) and 250th (pollution of the water), the investigation is being carried out by the General Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.

Later, Sledkom opened another case - about negligence - due to untimely reporting of a diesel spill. On June 4, at the request of the investigators, Vyacheslav Starostin, the head of the workshop of the CHPP-3 of JSC NTEC, was arrested. 

On June 3, Vladimir Putin agreed with the proposal of the head of the Ministry of Emergencies to introduce a federal emergency mode due to a fuel spill. At the same time, at a meeting with the president, Yevgeny Zinichev said that information about the emergency came to the department only two days later. In this regard, the president instructed security officials to evaluate the work of local officials.

“Why did the authorities learn about this only two days later? Are we going to learn about emergencies from social networks? Is everything all right with your health there? ”Putin said during the meeting, addressing the governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory Alexander Uss.

In addition, the president was surprised that the head of the region read the report without proposing a solution to the problem.

As the head of the Ministry of Emergencies specified during the meeting, the preliminary cause of the emergency is the subsidence of the foundation piles.