This archive report was first published on 28 June 2020.
Published on June 28, 2020, a statement from Norilsk Nickel cited a 'flagrant violation of operating rules' as the reason for suspending employees involved in the incident.
The incident occurred at the Talnakh enrichment plant, a subsidiary of Norilsk Nickel, one month after a massive fuel leak sparked a state of emergency declared by President Vladimir Putin.
More than 21,000 tonnes of diesel leaked from a fuel storage tank at the plant, causing the fuel to seep into the soil and dye nearby waterways bright red.
According to a source, around 6,000 cubic meters of liquid used to process minerals at the facility had been dumped, with the discharge lasting several hours.
Independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta published videos from the scene, showing large metal pipes carrying wastewater from the reservoir and dumping foaming liquid into nearby trees.
The journalists claimed the factory deliberately funnelled the wastewater into wildlife areas and hastily removed their pipes when investigators and emergency services arrived on the scene.
The Investigative Committee has opened an enquiry into the 'unauthorised dumping of liquid waste into the tundra' on the site of the facility.
Heavy machinery used to clear the pipes crushed a car delivering officials to the scene, Novaya Gazeta reported.
