Norilsk Nickel Research Articles

Стратегические перспективы развития отрасли цветных металлов: проблемы и задачи отечественных производителей

The non-ferrous metallurgy industry in Russia is undergoing profound changes due to geopolitical shifts, the transition to green energy, and the need to develop processing industries. Non-ferrous metals, as strategically important products, can play a decisive role in achieving the global goals of the Russian economy related to economic security, the development of domestic markets, the reconstruction of high-tech industries, the modernization of stably functioning industries, and the improvement of the quality of life for the population. The purpose of this research is to study the trends and risks affecting non-ferrous metal producers and to assess the opportunities and challenges for developing both external and domestic markets, ultimately aiming to ensure sustainable demand for the products of mining companies and metal producers. The primary research methods used include general scientific approaches such as comparative analysis, synthesis, and decomposition. This paper reviews the current state of Russia's non-ferrous metallurgy sector and explores its development prospects, with a specific focus on Norilsk Nickel, a key player operating in the Arctic. The main results of the study include an assessment of the current global market for non-ferrous metals, their role in the energy transition, and the formation of a low-carbon economy. The study also analyzes and summarizes the challenges facing domestic non-ferrous metallurgy and suggests potential directions for its development in the current economic context. A critical analysis of the Strategy for the Development of the Metallurgical Industry of the Russian Federation for the Period up to 2030 reveals that several important aspects and issues are not adequately addressed in the document. For example, it lacks a strategic planning methodology and fails to consider the specific characteristics and potential of the Arctic’s non-ferrous mineral resource base. The practical significance of this study lies in clarifying the prospects for utilizing non-ferrous metals to support the revitalization of high-tech industries in the national economy.

Управление горнопромышленными отходами арктических промышленных предприятий: охрана окружающей среды и экономика производства

The problems of mining waste management at industrial enterprises and increasing the economy of production are among the most urgent ones, especially for the Arctic ecosystems, characterized by high sensitivity to external factors and the complexity of recovery. The research was conducted on the example of large industrial corporations directly operating in the Arctic, including PJSC PhosAgro, PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel, Severstal Resource division of PJSC Severstal and PJSC NOVATEK. The key indicators related to waste management for 20182022 were analyzed. The trend of increasing volumes of mining waste in the Arctic was revealed, while the level of its utilization remained practically unchanged. It is proposed to intensify scientific research in the field of rational use of mining waste and to develop technologies for their processing, taking into account the impact on the Arctic ecosystems. It is suggested to create research and production centers for each industrial enterprise using the experience of the balanced “triple helix” model. It is recommended to actively participate in the Interdepartmental Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences on the development of the mineral resource base and its rational use, created in 2023, to develop the scientific foundations for the extraction and processing of minerals and accelerate import substitution.

Rock bolting procedure standardization: A case-study of Norilsk Nickel

Rock bolting procedure standardization: A case-study of Norilsk Nickel

Stakeholder Model of Corporate Governance: Methodology for Rapid Assessment of the Impact of Macroeconomic Challenges

The global humanitarian and economic challenges facing Russian corporate structures today require not only a rethinking of the role of public institutions in the future fate of the national economy, but also unprecedented innovative development of mechanisms for making management decisions in conditions of limited time and information. Well-known and methodologically developed approaches need transformation and development in relation to new realities. Based on the competent opinion of Russian corporate management on the current situation in the business environment, voiced at the XII All-Russian Forum «Business Management: Adaptation to Challenges and Development», requirements for the transformation of the corporate governance model have been determined. The purpose of the study was to develop the methodology proposed earlier by the authors for assessing the stakeholder value of the corporate network of the ESG activities of the corporation in terms of the influence of macro-level factors on it, in particular, economic sanctions. The following methods were used as a methodological basis: network approach, methods of logical analysis, correlation and regression analysis, comparison, graphic visualization. The methodology presented in the article was tested on the example of PJSC Norilsk Nickel and the region of its presence – the Krasnoyarsk Territory, based on data from two periods – pre-crisis (2012–2018) and including the COVID‑19 pandemic and strengthening of foreign trade sanctions (2012–2021). The results showed the sensitivity of the stakeholder value model to changes in macro conditions, which confirms the validity of the methodology for solving problems of operational management of corporate processes. The prospects for the research lie in the area of expanding the composition of stakeholder groups, developing methods for establishing operational connections between them and their assessment.

Strategic analysis of mining and metallurgical companies: consideration of socio-environmental factors

The strategic development of mining and metallurgical companies is currently largely related to the development of social policy and maintaining high responsibility of the business towards its employees and ecosystems. The strategic goals of companies should be aimed at the environmental modernization of production, ensuring, among other things, the reduction of emissions of harmful substances and greenhouse gases. The development of low-carbon technologies, compliance with modern environmental requirements, and the achievement of a high level of social responsibility are both areas of strategic development and opportunities for the formation of new competitive advantages. The purpose of the work is to adapt the methods of strategic analysis to modern environmental and social trends to set the current strategic goals of mining and metallurgical companies in terms of increasing attention to the social responsibility of business and the implementation of green production and low-carbon development. The study substantiates the increasing role of environmental and social factors of sustainable development in the activities of mining and metallurgical companies. Using MMC Norilsk Nickel as an example, the main environmental-oriented areas of the company’s development are identified, and the issues of social policy are also reflected. An algorithm of strategic analysis for the specifics of mining and metallurgical companies is proposed, suggesting the use of classical methods of strategic analysis and goal setting with the use of VRIO-analysis methodology, which in turn will allow to identify sustainable competitive advantages associated with the achievement of environmental and climatic objectives and increased social responsibility.

Environmental and economic efficiency of the implementation of production modernization programs

In the context of increasing environmental pollution, enterprises must be aware of their responsibility to society and conduct effective environmental activities in order to protect ecosystems and public health. Metallurgical enterprises occupy an important place in the country’s economy, creating the necessary basis for the development of production. But the technological processes of mining and processing of ore minerals have a significant negative impact on the environment. The paper gives a systematic assessment of the impact of mining and metallurgical enterprises on the environment, considers the impact of copper-nickel production on the atmosphere. Possible environmental initiatives of the industry enterprises are considered using the example of MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC. The calculation of the prevented damage to the environment, expected as a result of the implementation of environmental initiatives, was carried out. Efficient work of mining and metallurgical enterprises in the field of environmental protection will provide a significant economic effect at the enterprises and the state level.

ПОВЫШЕНИЕ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ ЭЛЕКТРОЭНЕРГИИ НА ГОРНЫХ ПРЕДПРИТИЯХ

The paper presents the results of a comprehensive energy audit at the nickel plant, one of the structural divisions of MMC Norilsk Nickel. A structural diagram of the plant's power supply is presented, the dynamics of electricity consumption is shown, showing that the main electricity consumption at the enterprise goes to the production of nickel (69% from the sinter and 21% from the Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant). Analysis of the dynamics of changes in electricity consumption for the main technological processes of nickel production from sinter shows a pronounced dependence of changes in the volume of electricity consumption for the production of sinter and smelting in ore-thermal furnaces. An analysis of the operation of electric drives with voltages of 0.4 kV and 6 kV is presented, for which the load parameters of the most powerful motors in the technological shops of the enterprise were recorded. It has been established that in order to increase the efficiency of energy use, as well as to reduce the influence of the electric drive on the load losses of the supply network, it is necessary to consider: the possibility of replacing individual, most unloaded motors with motors of lower power or the use of frequency control of the performance of process equipment...

Алгоритм одоления монопрофильности арктического города: случай Норильска

The research question of the article — identifying ways to overcome the single-industry nature of the city of Norilsk — have been concretized by solving the following tasks: to substantiate the “specificness” of Norilsk among the largest Arctic cities of Russia; to determine the role of the agglomeration effect in strengthening the support of Norilsk for the projects of Taimyr and the entire Eastern Arctic; to deter-mine the potential of Norilsk Nickel’s service structures and urban entrepreneurship for new mining and infrastructure projects in the Eastern Arctic; propose mechanisms for implementing the Norilsk Support Strategy. The methodological base of the study was formed by the concepts of technological modes, development blocking of old-industrial / mono-industrial territories and supportive settlements. Main results: Norilsk is the most specific among the largest Arctic cities of Russia according to the composite index, made up of nine key demographic, economic, socio-cultural indicators. Non-standard approaches are needed to diversify its economy. The agglomeration effect can constructively contribute to Norilsk’s transformation from a single-industry city into a base city for the development of the Eastern Arctic. The most important areas of structural transformation of Norilsk’s economy include strengthening the practice-orientation and geographical expansion of consumers of services of the local scientific and educational complex; establishment of an entrepreneurial layer in new industries and types of production activities; and entry of the city's entrepreneurship together with the plant's service structures into the market of projects and settlements in the Eastern Arctic. The main mechanisms for the implementation of the Norilsk Strategy: “mirror” actions in the eastern Arctic of the city and the Norilsk Nickel combine; transformation of Norilsk into a center for the provision of security services for the territories of the eastern Arctic; a center of formation of the Arctic cruise tourism from Dudinka to Anadyr; a center for accumulating best practices of renovation of the Arctic housing and communal services for their replication in the cities and towns of the Eastern Arctic. Recognition of Norilsk’s success in becoming a base city in the Eastern Arctic will be an increase in its administrative status: transformation into a city of federal significance.

Измерение уровня устойчивости технологического развития производственных систем (на примере промышленности североарктических регионов)

Sustainable development stands as the principal paradigm for global economic progress in the 21st century. However, the challenge of measuring the sustainability of economic systems across various types and levels persists. This study introduces a novel methodological approach to assessing the sustainability levels of production systems. The objective is to substantiate a method for quantifying the sustainability of production systems. Building upon a previously devised graphical model depicting the life cycle of technological development in production, the proposed method involves scoring the sustainability of production systems at different hierarchy levels (manufacturers, industries, production types). The resulting sustainability index enables making comparisons across different periods and entities. Practical implementation of the proposed method is demonstrated through a twelve-year analysis of three major companies operating in the North and the Arctic (Alrosa, Novatek, and Norilsk Nickel) and the Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company, a subsidiary of Norilsk Nickel. Additionally, a fifteen-year analysis of industrial production by type in four Russian Arctic regions is presented. Calculations reveal a generally low level of sustainability across all analyzed entities. The study identifies the cyclical nature of technological development in manufacturing enterprises as a significant influence on sustainability levels. Accounting for this factor in sustainability assessments will equip authorities and corporate managers in the Arctic regions to make more informed strategic decisions.

Оценка геомеханического состояния массива пород в окрестности глубоких выработок рудника «Скалистый» комплексом натурных методов

In recent years, deep levels of exploited deposits have been a priority for the Polar Branch of MMC Norilsk Nickel. In the first half of 2023, KANEX SHAKHTOSTROY LLC has completed exploration workings EW-1 at the –1650 m level and EW-2 at the –1750 m level from the ventilation shaft VS-10 to the skip-cage shaft SCS-1 (2 km below the daytime surface). Comprehensive studies of mining-induced disturbance were carried out at 17 measuring stations in EW-1 and EW-2 sections driven in 2020–2022 (the length of about 1500 m). The rheometric, ultrasonic logging and seismic profiling methods were used as the principal in-situ methods to solve the task. It has been established that the size of the disturbed zone in the vicinity of EW-1 and EW-2 is characterized by longitudinal wave velocities, Vp, in the range of 2–4 km/s, averaging over the entire length of 1m from the contour of the working. The results of the seismic studies indicate moderate disturbance of the rock mass in the horizontal plane of the working's wall. The results of in-situ complex studies are qualitatively comparable with the results of visual inspection of the fixed surface of the working, thus indicating its satisfactory geomechanical condition.

The Role of Large Corporations of Non-Ferrous Metallurgy in Providing Revenues of Regional Budgets Illustrated by Krasnoyarsk Territory (the public company ‘Norilsk Nickel’) and Irkutsk Region (the public company ‘OK RUSAL’)

Invariably high role of large tonnage and low-added-value business in economy of the Russian Federation stipulates topicality of such research. Big business reaching 78-80% of Russian GDP will continue playing the primary role, which will be backed by exchange rate in exporters’ interests and their raw material orientation. Iron and steel industry in Russia by budget, production and export significance yields only to oil and gas sphere. Ferrous and nonferrous metallurgy produces the most important construction materials for other industries and at the same time keeps up the demand for highly-qualified workers with rather high level of wages. The goal of the research is to identify the contribution of large companies of non-ferrous metallurgy to revenues of the Russian Federation budget system. For this end the authors analyzed accounts of companies with budget system on profit tax, on value-added tax, tax on individuals and tax on company property. Information base of the research was formed by works of home and overseas authors that show the role of large corporations in social and economic development of regions and countries, Rosstat data, information of the Federal Taxation Service on the Irkutsk region and the Krasnoyarsk territory, official annul and finance accounting of the public company ‘OK RUSAL’ and the public company ‘Norilsk Nickel’.

Control of the technical condition of buildings and structures on permafrost soils by the changes in the frequencies of natural vibrations (according to seismic monitoring of a pile-type building – the Palace of culture of Norilsk)

The relationship between temperature fluctuations and changes in natural frequencies of a piletype engineering structure located on permafrost soils is investigated in connection with the development of methods for monitoring the technical condition of similar structures. The object of the study is the Palace of Culture of the polar branch of PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel, located in Norilsk, where in recent years the thawing of the soils has a potential threat to the stability of engineering structures. The basic values of the frequencies of natural oscillations of the building were determined in August 2021 by the method of coherent reconstruction of the fields of standing waves and are 3.0, 3.7, 4.7 Hz on the short axis and 3.5 and 5.2 Hz on the long axis. The current (daily) frequency values are determined with an error of no more than 0.01 Hz from the amplitude spectra of seismic noise recordings (without active sources), which were obtained during continuous seismic monitoring from the end of August 2021 to the beginning of September 2022. From comparing the changes in the frequencies of natural oscillations with fluctuations in ambient temperature, it follows that during the year the frequencies change significantly (in winter their values are 11–12% higher than in summer), presumably due to defrosting/ freezing of the upper part of the soil. Against the background of this change, local fluctuations in frequency values were revealed due to cooling/ heating of the material of the building mainly at a positive ambient temperature (frequencies increase in direct proportion to temperature within 5–7%). According to the analysis of monitoring data after the annual cycle, the natural frequencies of the building in August 2021 and 2022 are not equal (the difference is up to 1.7%), which is presumably explained by the different depth of ground defrosting in the summer. To assess the impact of this phenomenon on the technical condition of the building, it is necessary to continue monitoring, first of all, to obtain data on changes in the natural frequ

О влиянии роста давления воздуха с глубиной на расчет требуемого количества воздуха в глубоких рудниках

The effect of increasing air pressure with the depth on the calculation of the required amount of air in the deep mines is analyzed in the work. It is established that with an increase in air pressure, the values of the volumetric maximum permissible concentrations of toxic and explosive gases in it decrease, while their maximum permissible mass concentrations remain unchanged. Failure to consider the decrease in volumetric maximum allowable concentrations of toxic and explosive gases with depth when calculating the required amount of air in the mines in some cases can lead to an underestimation of air flow rates in working areas and, as a result, to an excess of maximum allowable concentrations of harmful gases. To move the same volume of air, local ventilation fans at great depths need to expend more power than at the surface. Therefore, when working at depth, it is required to use local ventilation fans with electric motors of greater power. When air is supplied to a greater depth, it is compressed and the volume flow decreases. Therefore, in order to maintain the required volumes of air at depth, it is required to increase its flow rate at the main fan installation. This should be considered when calculating the required amount of air in deep mines. The results obtained in the work can be applied in the design of deep mines and the development of methods for calculating the required amount of air for them. Based on the conducted research, the method was adjusted for calculating the amount of air used at the Glubokaya mine of the Skalisty mine of the Polar Branch of PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel.

Modelling a corporate network’s stakeholder value created amid CSR policy implementation

The article aims to develop methodological approaches to assessing the stakeholder value of a corporation in the process of implementing the policy of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the face of unpredictable changes in the external environment. Network theory and the concept of corporate social responsibility constitute the methodological framework of the study. The methods used are narrative, correlation, regression and comparative analysis. The empirical evidence covers the data provided by the Federal State Statistics Service on the Russian regions for 2012–2021, RAEX rankings, and listings of the Moscow Exchange. The authors substantiate their own approach to assessing a corporate network’s stakeholder value created in the process of implementing CSR policy. The proposed method is tested using PAO Norilsk Nickel’s financial statements and the socio-economic development indicators of Krasnoyarsk krai as the corporation’s external environment. The research demonstrates that CSR policy has an effect on Business Environment and Natural Environment stakeholder groups, while the most profound response to CSR activities were observed in Population and Investors stakeholder groups. During the COVID-19 crisis, the ‘Corporation – Population – Corporation’ relationship model through the system of indicators ‘Annual wage – RF region’s unemployment rate – Enterprise net profit’ lost its indicativeness: there was a ‘compression’ of network relationships as a reaction to changing environmental conditions. Among the directions for further research is expanding the composition of the corporate network’s actors.

The role of digital companies in the transformation of the Russian economic model

Subject. The article deals with the transformation of the Russian economic model. Objectives. The purpose is to test the hypothesis about the impact of companies generating high added value (digital companies) on the economic model of the country. Methods. The study rests on general scientific principles and research methods, like abstraction, generalization of approaches of domestic and foreign authors to industrial policy, and the economic analysis. Results. I analyzed characteristic features of companies operating in industries with high and low generated added value, offered a five-stage methodology for assessing the key characteristics of companies. At the first stage, the production function of companies is investigated to determine the impact of the return on the resources involved and the presence of a multiplicative effect on the scale of the country's economy. At the second stage, the indicators of volatility, growth, marginality are analyzed to determine the impact of these characteristics on the dynamics of GDP. At the third stage, indicators of investment and innovation activity are calculated to assess their impact on the level of investment in the economy. The fourth stage is devoted to the analysis of the financial activities of companies, including their ability to attract external equity and debt capital, and to the evaluation of the distribution policy, which enables to conclude on company’s ability to attract resources for development. At the fifth stage, the capitalization rate and expected rate of profit growth of companies are evaluated to assess their investment attractiveness. Conclusions. The calculations performed on the basis of financial and non-financial statements of PAO MMC Norilsk Nickel and Yandex for 2022 lead to the conclusion that companies in industries generating high added value (digital companies) provide a multiplier effect, contribute to accelerating economic growth, increasing competitiveness, and improving the country's economic model. However, for the sustainable development of these companies, an industrial policy is needed to support and stimulate them.

DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR MANAGING SELENIUM DISTRIBUTION IN THE TECHNOLOGY OF SULFATE LEACHING OF FUSED PRODUCTS AT "THE NORILSK NICKEL HARJAVALTA OY" ENTERPRISE

The nickel refining company "Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta Oy" (NNH) produces three main types of nickel products: cathode nickel, nickel powders (briquettes), nickel salts. The decisive role in achieving high performance and guaranteed quality the nature of the impurities distribution and their behavior control, in particular selenium, plays a role in nickel products. Selenium has a sharply negative effect on the process of obtaining a cathode nickel base. At elevated concentrations in nickel-cobalt solution, this impurity makes it impossible to stable obtain commercial nickel cathodes. The study of the selenium behavior patterns in the processing circuit of metallurgical intermediates, such as feinstein and stein of electric slag-cleaning furnace (ESCF), made it possible to make the necessary changes to the technological scheme of the NNH leaching shop and to clarify the operating parameters of the main operations. A hypothesis is proposed about the possible mechanism of the effect of metallized fraction (alloy) contained in the feedstock on the process of reducing Se6+ to Se4+. The experiments performed confirmed the direct dependence of the selenium deposition degree from the solution to the solid precipitate from the alloy content in the feedstock. It has been established that by combining the applied ESCF matte with feinstein and/or nickel concentrate (NC) from feinstein separation, it is possible to effectively control the distribution of selenium in NNH technology, preventing its critical concentrations in nickel catholyte. Based on the research results, a two-flow scheme for processing processed products has been implemented, in which it is envisaged to use a combination of NC and products with a high content of metallized fraction. This method allowed to minimize the concentration of selenium in nickel catholyte.

Technique for assessing the stress state of a rock mass by a multicomponent displacement sensor using the overcoring method

Relevance. Currently, the mining industry is at the beginning of a new stage of development, which corresponds to the extraction of minerals at great depths in difficult conditions. Based on this, an uncertainty is formed in the assessment of the parameters of the stress state of the rock mass in which mining operations are carried out, which contributes to the growth of emergency situations in underground conditions. The method of overcoring is able to provide quantitative and qualitative information about the stress state. The purpose of the research – substantiation of the methodology for assessing the stress state of the rock mass by the method of overcoring, which includes two main stages: 1 – field tests; 2 – processing of field test data. Research methodology. The method of overcoring is based on measuring the displacements of the points of the walls of the measuring well with a multicomponent displacement sensor as a result of creating an annular gap (formation of complete unloading). Data processing is carried out by two main approaches: 1 – numerical modelling; 2 – analytical calculation. Results. The concept of carrying out work on the assessment of the stress state of the rock mass by the method of overcoring is described. Detailed information about the field test is provided, namely the sequence of measurements and the necessary equipment. A step-by-step algorithm for processing data obtained as a result of field tests based on numerical modelling and analytical analysis has been created. Conclusion. The technique presented in this paper was tested at the deposits of AO Apatit and PAO Norilsk Nickel and showed correct quantitative and qualitative results, according to the stress state of the rock mass.

Development and Implementation of an Effective Method for Controlling Selenium Distribution during the Sulfate Leaching of Molten Products at Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta Oy

Development and Implementation of an Effective Method for Controlling Selenium Distribution during the Sulfate Leaching of Molten Products at Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta Oy

Air quality and the health of Norilsk population: dynamics of the situation over 20 years

The article presents a retrospective analysis of the dynamics of air pollution in Norilsk with emissions from the largest metallurgical enterprise MMC Norilsk Nickel. In the city, for many years, elevated concentrations of sulfur dioxide, suspended particles, nickel, copper, benzo(a) pyrene and other substances have been recorded. Their impact has led to increased morbidity and mortality among the population of Norilsk. Estimated health risks from exposure to fine particulate matter (PM10) and sulfur dioxide are given. The excess mortality of Norilsk residents from exposure to sulfur dioxide decreased from 10% in 2007 to 0.8% in 2014—2019.Dynamics of mortality in Norilsk for 2008—2019 compared with data on the urban population of the Krasnoyarsk Territory is ambiguous. The mortality of men from all causes, including cerebrovascular and circulatory system diseases, is lower than in other cities of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, but higher from respiratory diseases. Mortality among women in Norilsk is higher than in the urban population of the Krasnoyarsk Territory by 16.6%, incl. from diseases of the respiratory system — by 82.7%, from diseases of the circulatory system — by 6.5%. The higher mortality rate of the female population of Norilsk among other cities of the Krasnoyarsk Territory may indicate the detrimental effects of the impact of polluted atmospheric air on the female part of the population.

Налоги в системе методов финансового регулирования предпринимательской деятельности в промышленности

The subject of the study is the instruments of tax regulation of industrial enterprises in the Russian Federation. The purpose of the work is to determine the degree of effectiveness of the use of individual instruments of tax regulation of industrial enterprises on the example of the holding "Norilsk Nickel". The article examines the main areas of support for industrial enterprises through the use of incentive tax incentives for organizations that develop and produce high-tech goods. The paper considers the application of the institute of consolidated group of taxpayers on the example of an industrial company and concludes that the share of reduction of corporate income tax as a result of the application of the institute of consolidated group of taxpayers (CGT) in the total amount of tax as a percentage has increased threefold. So, for 2018 2022. the reduction in corporate income tax due to its redistribution between the participants of the CGT amounted to 14913.38 million rubles. despite the fact that the share of reduction of corporate income tax due to the use of CGT in the total amount of tax has increased to 10%. The high efficiency of the use of reserves for doubtful debts has also been established, which allows saving significant funds.