In an area near the far-northern Russian city of
Norilsk, not far from the Arctic Ocean, a huge quantity of fuel has
once again been released into the fragile environment.
Russian mining company Nornickel said on Sunday that 44.5 tons of
fuel had leaked from one of its pipelines.
The incident took place at a site more than 100 kilometres from the
city of Norilsk, which sits above the Arctic Circle.
The pipeline has been shut down and measures are being taken to
collect the spilled fuel, the company said, adding that the leak
posed no danger to people.
This is the latest in a series of environmental scandals in Norilsk.
Nornickel, a nickel producer, was also responsible for another blow
to the local environment at the end of May, when 21,000 tons of oil
leaked from a combined heat and power plant and went into the ocean.
Nornickel has also admitted to disposing thousands of litres of
highly poisonous liquid waste in rivers.
In addition, a huge industrial waste tip near Norilsk caught fire
last month.
A view shows water barriers during recovery works following a diesel fuel leak at a thermal power station near Norilsk in Krasnoyarsk Region, Russia. Russian Emergencies Ministry/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo