Meeting with Norilsk Nickel CEO Vladimir Potanin
Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Vladimir Potanin, President of the Norilsk Nickel mining and metallurgical company, at the Kremlin.
October 14, 2025
14:05
The Kremlin, Moscow
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Potanin, how is it going? How is the company doing?
Norilsk Nickel CEO Vladimir Potanin: Mr President, this year, Norilsk Nickel turns 90. First of all, I would like to express our gratitude, on behalf of the entire team, for the award the company has received - the Order for Labour Valour.
This recognition is especially meaningful given the challenging conditions in which we are operating: declining global prices for our products, disrupted supply chains and payment systems, and the need to redirect to new, unfamiliar markets.
Despite this, Norilsk Nickel has maintained its leading global position in nickel, platinum group metals, and a number of other commodities. We have also ensured stable production volumes of all our key metals over the past five years.
Furthermore, even against the backdrop of declining company revenues over the past five years, we have sustained our social impact. This includes upholding our environmental stewardship commitments and implementing consistent wage increases for our employees.
Among our social obligations, housing construction remains the most pressing issue for Norilsk. I am pleased to report that over 2,000 Norilsk families have recently moved into improved housing.
In the field of environmental protection, a key recent achievement is our compliance with your Executive Order to reduce harmful atmospheric emissions by more than 20 percent under the Clean Air programme, which we met last year. This year, we have raised our ambitions and, by year-end, will double our sulphur dioxide recycling capacity. It is safe to say that Norilsk is on track to become a truly clean city in the near future.
Vladimir Putin: You produce not only nickel but also platinum group metals, is that correct?
Vladimir Potanin: That is correct. In addition to platinum group metals, we also produce gold and many rare metals. Our production fully meets our country's domestic needs, and we successfully sell any surplus on the international market.
In general, we sell the bulk of our products abroad, which explains the advantages and stability of our company on the one hand, and its vulnerability in terms of sanctions pressure on the other. I would like to say that what helps us a great deal is that you personally and the Government always raise these issues during bilateral political contacts, which makes our work easier.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Potanin, let us talk about ecology. I know that you are using the latest technologies. You not only buy and assemble equipment but also do your best to ensure that it is used effectively and improves the environment. Have your emissions really decreased?
Vladimir Potanin: Mr President, our emissions are indeed decreasing. The new technologies are effective, yet we are not standing still. Norilsk Nickel has created new systems based on domestic solutions, which not only allow us to measure the emission of harmful substances but also to predict and model the operation of the enterprise. I mean the so-called predictive modelling, where we create a digital twin and use AI to precisely calculate the time and volume of emissions. Even when these emissions comply with the accepted norms, we analyse wind rose charts and weather conditions to time the emissions so as to decrease their harmful influence on the people in Norilsk as much as possible. We are using exclusively Russian technologies, which we are also promoting.
Vladimir Putin: I know that your company has always had a substantial social programme.
Vladimir Potanin: Yes, this is true. To begin with, we have an agreement with the Government, the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the city [of Norilsk] on the investment of over 80 billion rubles [in the social programme]. It has been estimated at 120 billion rubles, and Norilsk Nickel is to provide 80 billion. On top of that, we are also investing over 100 billion rubles in other municipal programmes which have not been included in our agreement.
Take, for example, housing construction, which I have already mentioned. Over the past year and a half, we have completed four apartment blocks and the city has built another four houses - also with our involvement, since Norilsk Nickel is both the main taxpayer and the provider of additional funding.
Vladimir Putin: Good, thank you.
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