Russia's Environmental Watchdog Wants Oligarch-Controlled Norilsk To Foot $2 Billion Spill Bill, 6 July 2020

Russia's state environmental watchdog said metals producer Norilsk Nickel should foot the estimated $2 billion bill for damages caused by a massive fuel spill at the company’s operations in the Arctic.

Rosprirodnadzor said it had sent a request for "voluntary compensation" to a subsidiary of Norilsk Nickel, putting the damage to Arctic subsoil and water resources at 147.8 billion rubles ($2.06 billion).

A Norilsk Nickel spokeswoman said the company had not yet received the papers from Rosprirodnadzor. Nornickel has promised to pay the costs of the cleanup, which it estimated at 10 billion rubles ($140 million).