Alexey Chekunkov was clearly shown about the development plans for Norilsk.
Federal Minister of Far Eastern and Arctic Development Alexei Chekunkov, during a working trip to Norilsk, learned about the key projects of Norilsk Nickel and assessed the progress of the implementation of a comprehensive plan for the socio-economic development of the city, aimed improving the quality of life in this great industrial center of the country.
The Minister inspected the new house for invited specialists, handed over the keys to the apartments to the first residents and took part in the grand opening of the Iceberg ice rink, a modern garage complex for the Plant’s gas rescue service Metallurgical Nadezhda (NMZ) and also assessed the pace of development of renovation projects.
SUCCESSFUL START OF RENOVATION
“I’m here to see what best practices can be applied. First, of course, public-private partnerships. This is an important aspect. Many of our Arctic cities have strong partners, solid companies that take and must take an active part in the long-term development of these cities. Secondly, it is about technologies: construction, life in the North, in permafrost,” Alexey Chekunkov noted. – Two thirds of our country’s territory is covered by permafrost. But fate has allowed us, in the name of development, probably of all humanity, to extract oil and gas, valuable and non-ferrous metals, diamonds and produce mineral fertilizers. Everything that the Russian Arctic offers the world is only possible if we create a decent quality of life for the people here.”
In February 2021, the Ministry of Eastern Development, the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Norilsk and Norilsk Nickel signed a four-party agreement on the implementation of comprehensive measures for the socio-economic development of the city until 2024. And in December of the same year, the government approved a comprehensive socioeconomic development plan, aimed mainly at the renewal of the city, the basis of which is the construction of housing. The volume of project financing between 2021 and 2035 is 120 billion rubles, of which 81.3 billion rubles are funds from Norilsk Nickel.
The minister inspected the first house built in Norilsk within the framework of the renovation program. The complete reconstruction and remodeling work of the unfinished building from the 90s was carried out in a short time, less than 1 year. At the same time, the company’s specialists carried out soil thermal stabilization work. The building has 90 apartments for specialists invited to work in the company’s Norilsk division. There are 18 studios, 25 two-bedroom apartments, 38 one-bedroom apartments and 9 three-bedroom apartments. The house is equipped with furniture and appliances. The building has passenger and cargo elevators and elevators for people with reduced mobility. When installing the water supply and heating system, copper pipes with thermostats were used. On the adjacent territory there are children’s and sports parks and a recreation place.
In addition, the head of the Ministry of Eastern Development of Russia learned about the progress of other housing projects by visiting works in various areas of the city. Two 9-storey buildings are being constructed in the central district and two 6-storey buildings in Talnakh district. The projects are at a high level of preparation: 276 new apartments will be delivered by the end of 2024.
The guest personally verified the quality of the work carried out at the Aika sports complex.
SECOND BIRTH OF NMZ
During the trip, Alexei Chekunkov inspected the modern operational services complex of the Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant, which includes a fire station and a garage complex for the gas rescue service, as well as production facilities created during the execution of the Russia’s largest environmental project: the Sulfur Plant. Program. These facilities are just part of the major changes that have been implemented at NMZ this year.
“Norilsk is changing and, along with fundamental changes in the city, so is the company. These are two inseparable vectors. We are improving the comfort and accessibility of both the urban environment and the work spaces and leisure areas of employees. NM3 has experienced a renaissance this year thanks to the Sulfur Program; at industrial sites and in the city itself we are implementing a large-scale environmental program “Clean Norilsk,” commented Nikolai Utkin, senior vice president of the company.
HEAT STOP
The urban environment did not go unnoticed either. The Minister visited one of the new warm stops and traveled in a modern city bus.
“Every year dozens of new comfortable and warm stops are installed in the city. We listened to feedback from Norilsk residents and improved the facilities in terms of comfort and accessibility. This also applies to urban transport. It becomes modern and convenient. For this, the latest models of national buses, adapted to the conditions of the north, are purchased,” said the mayor of Norilsk, Dmitri Karasev.
Warm stops save from extreme cold
In Talnakh, Alexey Chekunkov opened a new ice rink “Iceberg”. The new facility for hockey and skating was built on the initiative of Norilsk Nickel. One of the main ideas is to create conditions for sports and leisure for the inhabitants of the Talnaj region. A technical feature of the project is the use of the most modern air conditioning systems and maintenance of ice freezing temperature. They will allow the sand to be used all year round.
The comprehensive plan for the development of the city on the eve of the minister’s working trip received its own digital platform – “Norilsk 2035”, which makes it possible to see the future appearance of Norilsk and all objects of renovation. Alexey Chekunkov was shown interactively on a digital portal the dynamics of large construction projects and what renovated urban areas will look like in 2035.
“They can evaluate that the solutions that Norilsk applies, the participation that Norilsk Nickel is providing and the joint efforts to create these new facilities, these solutions will serve as a model. They create a pattern for us that we will certainly apply. And in terms of work with permafrost soils, and in terms of public-private partnership mechanisms, and in terms of digitalization, and in terms of directions for the development of the social environment. Even transportation,” the minister concluded.
