Norilsk King Potanin was erased from the cover of Forbes
Rosprirodnadzor determined that a fuel spill at a thermal power plant in Norilsk, owned by a subsidiary of MMC Norilsk Nickel of oligarch Vladimir Potanin, caused damage to the water and natural resources of Taimyr by 148 billion rubles, effectively destroying the existing unique ecosystem.
Environmental experts report this, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
According to Rosprirodnadzor, as a result of a crack in a fuel tank located on the territory of CHPP-3 in the vicinity of Norilsk, 21 thousand tons of fuel leaked into the Ambarnaya River and other reservoirs.
As a result, damage to water resources amounted to 147 billion rubles, and to soil - 738 million. According to preliminary estimates, the area of contamination was 180 thousand square meters.
Back in early June, Vladimir Potanin promised to eliminate the consequences of the spill at the company’s expense, while the oligarch estimated the amount of damage caused by his company’s activities at 10 billion rubles, that is, tens of times less than the figure established by Rospotrebnadzor.
In fact, the work to eliminate the consequences has resulted in an informational and actual blockade of the site of an environmental disaster, where independent journalists are not allowed, and the loyal press is transported by Norilsk Nickel transport along proven routes. Only individual environmental activists, who entered the disaster zone bypassing official routes on their own initiative, opened the eyes of society to the scale of the disaster.
“After the accident in Norilsk, diesel fuel is moving towards the Kara Sea or has already reached it,” says one of these activists, an environmental blogger who sailed through the contaminated area in an inflatable boat and took the necessary measurements Zhora Kavanosyan. – Such a huge amount of fuel, which today contaminates the shores, silt and water, can lead to the complete destruction of the world’s most sensitive Arctic ecosystem.
The situation requires immediate intervention by international environmental institutions and the widest coverage in the world media. The biggest problem is that the culprit of the accident, the Russian oligarch Mr. Potanin, is trying to hide the true scale of the tragedy.
The responsible services under his control deliberately hush up the movement of pollution to the north. The media are trying to downplay the scale of the disaster. I personally had to come to the site of the oil spill and do several tests confirming the catastrophic state of the Arctic rivers and lakes. I published these results on my blog.”
Kavanosyan suggests that the result of the tragedy could be the death of unique marine fauna, and considers the negligence of Norilsk Nickel to be the cause of the incident. At the same time, back in 2017–2018, Rostechnadzor identified 33 violations committed during the operation of the site with diesel fuel tanks at CHPP-3.
Against the backdrop of what happened, Norilsk Nickel shares began to fall sharply and over the past day alone they lost 6,4% of their capitalization. Personally, Potanin, who owns 35% of Norilsk Nickel shares, lost $975 million, that is, almost a billion.
At the same time, if the Russian leadership, generous in helping the oligarchs, does not decide to save Potanin, payment of the damage caused to the state in the amount of 146 billion rubles or 2,1 billion dollars could completely ruin Norilsk Nickel, since, according to various estimates, the company has 2,8 billions of dollars.
In this regard, the 40th issue of Forbes magazine, which was released the other day, looked rather ridiculous; back in February, with an announcement that placed Potanin at the top of the ranking of Russian billionaires, with his face on the cover and an interview, during which the oligarch said in particular:
“My plan is this: I’m preparing for the match of the centenary of Soviet and Russian hockey in 2046. This date will be celebrated by everyone, professionals, amateurs, and veterans. We will be playing a match within the Night Hockey League. Until that time, I will be in the Forbes ranking, it’s not difficult for me.”
Now, it seems that the oligarch’s plans will be slightly adjusted, and even Forbes, after the signal circulation, released the 40th issue with a different cover - tennis player Daniil Medvedev.
“The joyful Forbes cover, which was clearly approved before the Norilsk disaster, now looks like an artifact from another time. Russia must know its “heroes,” Russian State Duma deputy Nikolai Valuev commented on the situation.
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