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Kola MMC suspends some operations amid ecology action

The Kola Mining and Metallurgy Company participates in the ecology action, dubbed Zero Negative Impact on Environment

MURMANSK, November 30. /TASS/. The Kola Mining and Metallurgy Company (Kola MMC, a part of the Norilsk Nickel Company) participates in the ecology action, dubbed Zero Negative Impact on Environment, which is underway between November 28 and December 4. The company suspended some of its operations to reduce the impact on the environment, the company’s press service said on Friday.

"Under the action, the company has suspended for a short term some of its operations to cut the impact on the environment," the press service said.

On November 29, the company suspended for a day work of the melting and converter section (one reflective furnace, two converters and two anode furnaces) at the metallurgical shop in Monchegorsk. Besides, the smelting shop in the Nickel village has cut use of the electric furnaces and convertor equipment. For example, three ore-thermal furnaces were suspended for 7 hours within one day. "The temporary reducing of the capacities at the company’s two units would not affect the production plan," the press service said.

The Kola MMC participated in the ecology action in previous years. The action is organized by the Murmansk Region’s government and the Belonna ecology union. The Kola MMC has been using new technologies and continues upgrading its production processes. Over recent 20 years, it has reduced Sulphur dioxide emissions by more than two times - from 277,000 tonnes in 1998 to 109,000 tonnes in 2017, having invested in the ecology program more than 20 billion rubles ($299 million), the company said.