MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC

MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC (Nornickel) caused one of Russia's worst environmental disasters when a fuel storage tank at its Norilsk-Taimyr Energy subsidiary collapsed in May 2020, spilling approximately 21,000 cubic meters of diesel into the Ambarnaya and Daldykan rivers. The spill polluted two rivers and Lake Pyasino, turning waters red and devastating the fragile Arctic tundra ecosystem. The Russian government filed a lawsuit seeking 147 billion rubles (approximately $2 billion) in damages, which the company ultimately paid in 2021—a record environmental fine in Russian history.

Satellite monitoring documented the extensive contamination, requiring the removal of tons of polluted soil and the skimming of oil and toxic water mixtures from the rivers. This incident followed a long history of environmental damage linked to the company's operations in Siberia. Norilsk, the city housing its operations, is consistently ranked among Russia's most polluted due to persistent emissions of toxic substances, primarily sulfur dioxide, from its smelting facilities. While the company has shuttered some aged facilities, its operations continue to pose significant risks to the Arctic environment.