Norilsk Nickel has conducted almost 30 activities to support indigenous peoples of the North totaling 1.3 billion rubles ($13.6 million): new residential buildings and medical centers are being built, preparations are underway for the construction of cultural centers, housing for orphans, purchasing computer equipment for schools and much more.
This was announced by Anfisa Nikiforova, the First Vice-President of the Association of indigenous peoples of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, head of the department of relations with indigenous peoples of the North in the Polar branch of Norilsk Nickel.
She recalled that the company's large-scale program for indigenous peoples is designed for five years with a total amount of funding of over two billion rubles.
In total, the project covers seven areas and 44 activities aimed at supporting traditional activities, protecting the native habitat, financing housing, medical, infrastructure, tourism and socio-cultural projects in Taimyr. The list of events was formed with the direct participation of indigenous peoples.
"The program is being implemented with a significant advance in terms of housing acquisition, construction of social facilities, cultural events. The Coordinating Council of the community appreciates the work of the Polar Branch and thanks the leadership of the Norilsk Division for the program's implementation and support of the KMNS communities," Nikiforova said.
During the four years of the program, the composition of the Coordination Council of the indigenous peoples has significantly expanded from 11 to almost 60 communities. This is a majority of all organizations registered in Taimyr that officially represent the interests of the five ethnic groups of the peninsula.
Representatives of each community participate in the discussion of the decisions of the Coordinating Council.
At the last meeting, in particular, the issue of personnel shortage and attracting young people to villages was considered. The participants of the discussion came to the conclusion that the solution to the problem could be the construction of housing for orphans.
Norilsk Nickel has been purchasing apartments for orphans in Dudinka, the capital of Taimyr. Over the past three years, 15 young people have been given apartments there.
At the suggestion of community representatives, Norilsk Nickel announced its readiness to support education of children from villages in Russian schools and universities on the condition that after graduation they will return to work in Taimyr.
The "Students of Taimyr" program to enroll into the Polar State University has been operating for four years. Norilsk Nickel takes care of almost all expenses: tuition, accommodation, transportation, additional courses, and also pays Taimyr students a scholarship of 20 thousand rubles. Since 2020, 40 people have already taken advantage of this unique opportunity.
This may help to solve the problem of personnel shortage in the traditional types of economic activities of the indigenous peoples of the North.
This year Norilsk Nickel has also begun assessing the reserves of biological resources of the water bodies of the Yenisei and Khatanga river basins. Scientists will determine whether or not fishermen in the region can count on additional quotas for fishing.
Norilsk Nickel also helps to preserve and develop the traditions of the residents of Taimyr. At the meeting of the Coordinating Council of the indigenous peoples, the management of the Polar branch of the company supported their initiative to organize the northern multidiscipline competition and celebrate the Day of the reindeer herder which is going to be a big holiday is planned in 2024 in Dudinka.
Another important decision of the Coordinating Council is the development of a community action plan for 2024 and the possibility of additional funding. The participants decided to submit proposals to Nikolay Utkin, Senior Vice President of Norilsk Nickel, by October 1.
This is additional financial support, in excess of the two billion rubles provided by the company for the implementation of the program. Over the past two years, Norilsk Nickel has already provided such support twice, allocating an additional 200 million rubles for initiatives, projects and needs of the Northern communities.
The support of indigenous minorities in the territories of the company's presence is traditionally an important area of activity for Norilsk Nickel.
Since 2020, the company has been implementing a five-year program to support and develop the ethnic groups of Taimyr.
Houses are being built in the villages of Taimyr, rural houses of culture are being erected, schools are provided with access to stable Internet, students' education is subsidized by Norilsk Nickel.
The company also works hard to preserve the heritage of indigenous peoples by such means as folklore festivals, master classes in choreography, decorative and applied arts, books on the history and culture of peoples, traditional economic activities.
PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel is a diversified mining and metallurgical company, the world's largest producer of palladium and high-grade nickel, and the world's leading producer of platinum, cobalt, copper and rhodium. The company also produces silver, gold, iridium, ruthenium, selenium, tellurium, sulfur among other products.
The production divisions of the Norilsk Nickel group of companies are located in Russia in the Norilsk industrial region, on the Kola Peninsula and in the Trans-Baikal Territory, as well as in Finland.
In Russia, the company's shares are admitted to trading on the Moscow and St. Petersburg stock exchanges, and its American depository receipts are admitted to trading on the St. Petersburg stock exchange.
The group's products are supplied to 37 countries in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and Americas. It is acquired by more than 400 partner companies. Its sales offices operate in Switzerland, China and the USA.
Norilsk Nickel fully supports the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. For the company, adherence to the principles of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility is an integral part of efficient operations and business development. Norilsk Nickel is constantly improving its environmental protection activities, human rights protection policy, occupational safety and health, environmental impact assessment, and biodiversity conservation. The company spent 333 billion rubles on projects related to sustainable development in 2022.
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished
