Strategic approach

Despite global uncertainties and emerging economic and political challenges, Nornickel maintains its focus on sustainability principles as a fundamental factor that will shape the global agenda in the coming years.

Promoting sustainability practices, the Company, on the one hand, adapts to the strategic landscape and market changes and contributes to more effective risk management, and on the other hand, fosters a motivating and innovative corporate culture, builds beneficial relationships with stakeholders and supports principles that are key to maintaining a healthy and rich environment.

To effectively integrate sustainability principles across all activities, Nornickel has adopted over 20 internal documents. At the strategic level, the Company has in place the Environmental and Climate Change Strategy and is developing the Social Development Strategy to be approved in 2023.

Contribution to the UN SDGs

To effectively integrate sustainability principles across all activities, Nornickel has adopted over

20 internal documents
Environmental and climate Social responsibility Governance
Key achievements
  • Reduction of SO₂ emissions on the Kola Peninsula following shutdown of the Company's smelting operations (down 90% from 2015)
  • The lowest CO₂ emission level (Scope 1, 2 and 3) among global metals and mining peers
  • Reputation of a socially responsible business
  • Comprehensive support of local communities and national projects
  • Long track record of supporting indigenous peoples; pioneering the process to obtain their free, prior and informed consent to projects
  • Sustainable corporate governance and risk management
  • Including ESG targets in short-term and long-term KPIs
  • Balanced and effective Board of Directors
Strategic priorities
  • Meeting the key SO, reduction targets for the Norilsk Industrial District
  • Clean-up of accumulated waste and remediation following environmental incidents in Norilsk
  • Assessing biodiversity impact and preparing a scientific rationale for a biodiversity conservation programme
  • Further developing the physical risk management system across the Company's footprint
  • Supporting environmental initiatives across the Company's geography
  • Zero work-related fatalities
  • Reducing the impact of operations on indigenous peoples in the regions of operation
  • Refurbishment of housing and social infrastructure in Norilsk
  • Fostering a new sustainability culture across the Company
  • Compliance with key international sustainability initiatives
Contribution to the UN SDGs

The principles of sustainable development are being actively introduced into the corporate culture of the Company. In 2022, Nornickel:

held 17 dedicated workshops and trainings,
up almost 2.5 times from 2021
provided training in ESG for
> 1,300 employees
conducted
6 ESG audits

Actively used stakeholder engagement mechanisms through dialogues, surveys, public discussions of internal documents, and public consultations on projects.

In 2023, the Company plans to continue implementing measures to align its activities with the guidelines and standards, such as ICMM and IRMA, TCFD recommendations, and other. The plans include:

  • deeper integration of ESG principles into strategic planning and risk management procedures
  • analysis of Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) requirements in relation to Company facilities
  • cascading adopted policies to subsidiaries for implementation
  • setting additional ESG-related KPIs and evaluating performance
  • establishing a human rights due diligence system (until the end of 2024)
  • implementing the supply chain to all supplier categories
  • holding stakeholder dialogues and publishing new reports on climate change and human rights.
Nornickel’s sustainability management flowchart in 2022
Contribution to the UN SDGs

Sustainability KPIs for management
International sustainability standards at the end оf 2022
Standard Certified assets Status
  • ISO 14001–2015
  • ISO 9001:2015
  • ISO 45001:2018
  • MMC Norilsk Nickel (Head Office, Polar Division,
  • Polar Transport Division, and Murmansk Transport Division)
  • Kola MMC
  • Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta
  • Bureau Veritas Certification
  • Surveillance audits – annually
  • Recertification audits – every threeyears
  • ISO/IEC 27001:2013
  • Kola MMC,
  • Murmansk Transport Division, Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant,
  • Copper Plant,
  • Talnakh Concentrator
  • TUV Austria
  • Surveillance audits – annually
  • Recertification audits – every three years
Global ESG initiatives at the end оf 2022
Initiative Status
Together for Sustainability (TfS) initiative The Company’s compliance with the requirements of the initiative was confirmed by the 2021 audit
International Platinum Group Metals Association (IPA) Member since 1999
Nickel Institute Member since 2005
UN Global Compact Member since 2016
Responsible Sourcing Blockchain Network (RSBN) Member from December 2020 to July 2022
Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI)

In 2022, RMI suspended cooperation with the Company's Russian assets.

Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta (the Company’s asset in Finland) was included in the RMI Conformant/Active Smelters lists based on RMI RMAP audit results

Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) In 2022, IRMA suspended cooperation with the Company's Russian assets. In the same year, Nornickel independently assessed its mining assets for compliance and readiness for the certification
Global Battery Alliance (GBA) Member since 2021
ESG ratings at the end оf 2022
Rating Status
EcoVadis ESG score – 62
MSCI ESG rating – B, score – 3.0 out of 10
Sustainalytics ESG risk score – 43.9 out of 100, on a scale from 1 (low risk) to 100 (high risk)