Fully automated factories which work without human intervention and don't pollute the environment will be opened in the Far North in the coming years. At the moment, people have to work there in the harshest conditions because of the severe climate, first and foremost. Today, Nornickel's CEO, Vladimir Potanin, told Vladimir Putin how the Russian industry of extracting precious metals will develop. People that are to be replaced by robots are now being retrained to do other work which is in demand.
Andrey Grigoriev has the details.
There is some change in the ranks of precious metals. Palladium costs more than gold for the first time. This is good news for our country. The largest palladium producer in the world is the Russian company Norilsk Nickel. The president met today with its CEO.
Vladimir Putin: "What are your production figures?"
Vladimir Potanin, Nornickel CEO: "We've produced over 200,000 tons of nickel, over 350,000 tons of copper. This year, we produced almost record amounts of palladium and platinum. They are in great demand because environmental regulations are toughening, so more and more world's auto manufacturers need palladium and platinum to make catalytic converters".
Nornickel is the leader in palladium and nickel production, the demand for which is constantly growing, and a key figure in the market for gold, silver, copper, and sulfur. Nornickel isn't just a plant, but an entire production area which has no equals. That's why the enterprise has to take care not only of its employees but the entire area surrounding Norilsk. It's the largest northern city in the world with over 150,000 residents.
Vladimir Putin: "The most important issue for you is the environmental one. I know that you're taking care of this".
Vladimir Potanin: “We pay a lot of attention to solving the environmental issues which we inherited. This issues will be solved by 2023 because we'll have cut sulfur emissions by 75%.”
The mining and refining complex was built in the 1930s and 1940s.
"The ore contains 25 chemical elements".
Not long ago, it broke records in pollution, but its oldest and least environmentally-friendly subdivisions were shut down. They use new technologies in modern subdivisions. Emissions are reduced as much as possible.
Vladimir Putin: "You're adopting the most modern methods to solve those issues, as I see. You're taking advantage of digital production as well. What exactly do you use?"
Vladimir Potanin: "We're now adopting digital technologies in our facilities on a large scale. The image of our enterprise will change in 5-7 years. It means that fewer people will have to do hazardous work. There will be facilities without humans".
The enterprise's employees receive the largest paychecks and benefits package in the industry. The employees get not only free medical assistance but are resettled to other Russian regions with a milder climate than one in Norilsk at the expense of the enterprise after they retire.
Andrey Grigoriev, Natalia Lundovskaya, and Konstantin Rodin for Vesti.
