Russian authorities have demanded the mining giant Nornickel make a USD 2 billion contribution to cover the environmental damage caused by the Arctic’s biggest ever oil spill. Russia’s environmental agency Rosprirodnadzor estimated the cost of the spillage of 21,000 tons of diesel at RUB 148 billion. The agency calculated the damage and sent claims for voluntary compensation to Norilsk Taimyr, a subsidiary of Nornickel. The spill occurred on May 29 near the Siberian city of Norilsk. Pictures of rivers contaminated with the red diesel fuel spread across the world and President Vladimir Putin declared a state of emergency in the region in early June. The Nornickel company is controlled by Russia’s richest man, Vladimir Potanin.
