In the photo (from left to right): Olga Belyanina, First Deputy Minister of Ecology of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Alexander Barykov, Managing Director of the OMK Vyksa Plant, Andrey Kukhno, Director of the Ecolant Company, Head of the Local Government of the O.G. Vyksa Vladimir Kochetkov
On July 27, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the OMK Vyksa plant, the Ecolant company and the administration of the Vyksa city district signed a memorandum on sustainable development goals in the field of environmental safety and responsible attitude to the environment.
The document includes agreements on cooperation in the implementation of a number of environmental initiatives on the territory of Vyksa. These are the conservation of biodiversity, the separate collection and recycling of waste, the protection of water bodies and atmospheric air, the organization of environmental monitoring of air, landscaping, the development of a system of environmental education and enlightenment, the decarbonization of industry. In order to reach agreements, a working group will be created, the purpose of which will be to coordinate cooperation in the implementation of joint projects. Among them are the development of environmental programs, the exchange of scientific and technical information, and joint research. To implement the projects, a plan of joint activities will be formed.
The document was signed during a working trip of the leaders of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the region to Vyksa. Signatures under the memorandum of cooperation and mutual understanding in environmental activities were put by the First Deputy Minister of Ecology of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Olga Belyanina, the head of the local government of the city of O.G. Vyksa Vladimir Kochetkov, managing director of the Vyksa OMK plant Alexander Barykov and director of Ecolant Andrey Kukhno.
The initiative to sign the memorandum belongs to the Vyksa OMK plant. The company pays great attention to environmental issues, realizing the importance of maintaining a favorable environment for the life of citizens. OMK's Vyksa Plant is implementing major environmental projects aimed at protecting the atmospheric air and water bodies, as well as recycling waste.
“The agreement on the ecological concept of the development of the territory provides for work in the social spheres that are most in demand today. These tasks can only be solved jointly, in close contact by each of the parties. We are grateful to OMK Vyksa for its systematic approach. The signing of this agreement is another step towards solving the issues of sustainable development of Vyksa,” said Olga Belyanina, First Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.
“The purpose of signing the memorandum is the development of the Vyksa urban district, it provides for work on key environmental issues. We have experience of joint cooperation with OMK and the Vyksa plant in the implementation of environmental projects. This is the processing of slag dumps, the repair of hydraulic structures. The closure of the open-hearth shop and iron foundry in the historical center of the city, as well as other local projects, made a great contribution to improving the environment. It is gratifying that the development of Vyksa metallurgical enterprises is based on the best world practices of environmental protection,” said the head of the local government of the city of O.G. Vyksa Vladimir Kochetkov.
“Reducing the impact of industrial production on the environment is OMK's key task. The company's investments in environmental protection measures and the environmental modernization of the Vyksa plant over the past five years amounted to about seven billion rubles. The enterprise reduces emissions into the atmosphere, reduces the volume of wastewater, and increases waste disposal. We also conduct an independent environmental impact assessment, monitor and regularly publish data on air quality in Vyksa. With the signing of the memorandum, we will continue to implement the best sustainable development practices in our business processes and reduce the environmental impact in Vyksa,” said Alexander Barykov, Managing Director of the OMK Vyksa plant.
“The Ecolant complex is in line with the environmental agenda for the development of the Russian economy. The emission of carbon dioxide from the metallurgical production of our enterprise will be up to three times lower than in the traditional blast-furnace steel production. The launch of Ecolant will contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of the iron and steel industry and is an important step in reducing the impact of steel production on the environment. Today we are ready to start working within the framework of the signed agreement,” said Andrey Kukhno, director of Ecolant.