Rosprirodnadzor is ready to recover $ 2 billion from Nornickel through the court

"We applied all the necessary coefficients, the formula contains a sufficiently large number of them. We believe that they are absolutely applicable to the situation, time and actions that took place there. We are ready to prove this in court, if it comes to it”, - Izvestia quotes the head of Rosprirodnadzor Svetlana Radionova.

According to the representatives of Norilsk Nickel, the agency applied the highest penalty coefficient. Svetlana Radionova noted that at the same time, no one argues with the application of one of the lowest coefficients for the northern rivers, despite the fact that the northern rivers are restored longer than others.

"This is the fragile, inaccessible nature of the Arctic. However, this coefficient does not bother anyone”, - the expert said, adding that Rosprirodnadzor “is clearly confident that they have done”.

The head of the department noted that in relation to 21 thousand tons of oil products that got into water bodies after the accident, the amount of the fine can hardly be called high.

"Just imagine, these are almost seven trains of oil products that simultaneously hit the water area. And it is the basis of life of the indigenous peoples of the North. The discussion of the damage went on for a month and a half, the public called various figures, the huge world experience was examined”, - she explained.

Note that so far the agency has not received any counter-statements about the amount of the fine from Norilsk Nickel.

“Let's focus on what really matters — the damage done. Whether it will be minimized, how the ecosystem will feel - this is the only thing that worries me”, - Radionova said.

She said that "it will be easier to prove the violation in court, because each of our orders is appealed".

- We are always ready for trial. This is a legal right of any enterprise, an attracted person - legal, physical, individual entrepreneur. Now we can punish for exceeding emission limits, but their volume is very difficult to calculate, - said the head of Rosprirodnadzor.

Recall that earlier, Norilsk Nickel made an official position with respect to the requirements of Rosprirodnadzor regarding compensation for damage caused by the ecosystem after an oil spill near Norilsk. According to company representatives, some indicators taken by the department to form the total amount of damage are not justified and need to be adjusted. Norilsk Nickel also believes that the mass of fuel that has fallen into water bodies has been determined incorrectly, since their amount in the water-fuel mixture, contaminated soil and sorbent collected in the CHPP-3 area has been calculated before the completion of the collection of oil products.