Local communities and human rights

Our Sustainable Social Development Strategy through 2030 aims to:

attract young talent and experienced professionals, including to Russia’s Far North

improve onboarding to welcome new employees and enhance engagement of seasoned professionals

minimise the Company’s impact on local communities

foster sustainable social and economic development across the Company’s footprint

contribute to the well‑being of society at large nationally and internationally

Healthy environment

Nornickel respects the right of all people to a healthy environment and strives to reduce its environmental footprint in the regions where it operates, as well as to introduce environmental initiatives.

In October 2023, Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant launched its Sulphur Programme. Once the project reaches its target parameters, the Company will be able to meet 2024 statutory requirements for cutting pollutant emissions in Norilsk by at least 20%. In 2025, sulphur dioxide emissions will be down by 45% from 2015, our baseline. The programme aims to deliver drastic cuts in sulphur dioxide emissions in Norilsk in order to make the air free from pollutants, coupled with a positive impact on public health.

In 2023, we also made an extensive research of biodiversity in the regions of our operations and continued with the programme for waste collection and land rehabilitation in Norilsk and other environmental initiatives.

Healthy social environment

Nornickel respects the rights of local communities and runs a number of programmes to improve their living standards.

The World of New Opportunities is the Company’s flagship programme (ongoing since 2015), which aims to improve the well‑being of Arctic residents. In 2023, the programme embraced more than 15,000 people residing in the regions of our operations.

Key dimensions of the World of New Opportunities programme in 2023
Dimension DEVELOP! INVENT! ACT! CREATE!
Purpose Support of public initiatives and development of local territories through building partnerships Fostering of R&D creativity and the spirit of invention Development and growth of service‑based economy Advanced development of regions
Programmes and projects
  • We Are the City! social technologies forum
  • Socially Responsible Initiatives competition
  • World of Taimyr project competition
  • Travel grant competition
  • We Are the City! social engineering workshop
  • We Are the City! picnic
  • School Break educational project
  • IMAKE engineering marathon
  • IN’HUB international forum of innovators
Accelerator for regional entrepreneurs and investment session Projects of regional development institutions: Norilsk Development Agency, Second School Centre for Community Initiatives of the Pechengsky District, Monchegorsk Development Agency

The Company deems important to develop a youth ecosystem as an efficient tool for attracting, fostering and retaining young talent. Currently, we focus on engineering capabilities to upgrade our production facilities.

To this effect, Nornickel launched the Building the Future: Nurturing Engineering Talent project in 2023 with a view to igniting strong interest in engineering professions and career opportunities in the industry. As part of its educational ecosystem, the Company develops multifaceted programmes tailored to various age groups, ranging from 5 to 35 years old.

Nornickel’s youth ecosystem projects by age

Children (ages 5‑17) and their parents


  • Nornickel Lessons
  • Guided tours to the Group's facilities
  • School Break
  • SVET ON
  • LIGA IMAKE
  • City of Professions
  • Tsifronikel.Junior

Students (ages 18‑24)


  • Hands‑on educational programmes in partnership with educational institutions
  • Conquerors of the North
  • Career Start‑Up
  • Polar College
  • Bystrinsky GOK'S
  • Generation FAST

Young talent (up to 35 years old)


  • In Good Company
  • First Arctic
  • Those Who Care
  • Plant of Goodness