MOSCOW, November 26. /TASS/. The warming in the Arctic affects Norilsk Nickel's production processes, though minimally so far, the company's Vice President for Environment and HSE Stanislav Seleznev told TASS.
"So far, the warming has a minimal effect. Everyone is talking about this warming, and in the Arctic, scientists say, it develops faster than elsewhere," he said. "We keep a very close eye on all the trends, scientific studies, and statistics. We analyze both pros and cons." Seleznev said.
According to him, the warming's positive effects include easier life and work in the Far North, longer navigation, and less use of expensive icebreakers.
"One of the main disadvantages is the permafrost thawing," he continued. "No one can tell us exactly how many meters and in how many years the permafrost soils will melt. We are aware of expert assessments, but they differ. Nobody quotes exact figures, and we realize this may become a stability problem for many of our buildings and structures."
He highlighted separately potential risks for energy and gas transporting infrastructures.
"Dozens and hundreds kilometers of power lines and pipelines run across the tundra. They are based on supports on perennially frozen soils. In the event of thawing, there is a risk the power lines and pipelines will be sagging," he added.