Air quality monitoring in the Russian-Norwegian border area

BARENTS EURO-ARCTIC COUNCIL

WORKING GROUP ON ENVIRONMENT

Svanhovd 16. March 2016

Tore Flatlandsmo Berglen(tfb@nilu.no)

Outline

•Mining in the Russian border area•Emissions from Zapolyarny and Nikel•Norwegian monitoring program•Air quality monitoring results from Norwegian and Russian monitoring program

Mining in the border areas, Kola MMC

Web page: www.nornik.ru

http://www.nornik.ru/en/about-norilsk-nickel/operations/kola-

mmc

•Sulphide ores; emissions of SO2 (and someH2S). About 100’000 tonnes SO2 annually, 40’ from Zapolyarny and 60’ from Nikel.

•Emissions of heavy metals. Ni, As, Cu and Co trace metals form smelter activity.

Emissions

Nikel smelter and city of Nikel 19. June 2008.

Hourly mean concentrations in Nikel (NILU instrument):

1470 μg/m3 (13h-14h) and 1527 μg/m3 (14h-15h).

Nikel; Diffusive emissions - stack emissions

Stack emissions from Nikel smelter

White, grey, yellow, brown, black…

Related to smelting processes?

Other explanations?

Photos taken Saturday 18. April 2015, just

a few minutes between the two pictures.

Photo: Benjamin Flatlandsmo Berglen

Zapolyarny upgrade

New production lines, dry the briquettes insteadof roasting

Reduction of emissions from Zapolyarny – butincreased emissions from Nikel

Expect increased impact on air quality in Norway and Nikel settlement

Heavy metals (Ni, As, Cu, Co); emissions and trends

Выбросы Ni в атмосферу (тонн/год).

2660,0

1619,0

1304,0

546,1

378,4 387,0349,0 330,4

1605,4

720,4

2712,0

1960,0

1366,01309,0

1348,01276,4 1257,8

817,9760,1

719,0

500,8

1127,5

456,5

2118,0

342,0

301,0 279,0 295,0 282,0 297,0 299,0 298,5 321,4 323,1 329,1 354,1 347,6 327,0 329,0 329,4 327,6

347,9

717,4

895,1

1627,1

1456,6

1630,5

1144,9

1089,11048,4

828,4 804,4

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

площадка Мончегорск (комбинат Североникель)

площадки Заполярный и Никель (комбинат Печенганикель)

ОАО "КГМК"

Monitoring program air and precipitation 2012->

MonitoringstationSvanvik

- SO2 continuously (monitor)

- Heavy metals in air / at particles (PM10)

- Heavy metals in precipitation

- Meteorology

- NIBIO Svanhovd is local station maintenance

Episode Svanvik 20. October 2014Highest hourly mean value: 1418 µg/m3, highest 10-minute value

3541 µg/m3, highest instant value ~ 4900 µg/m3

Some key figures April ‘14 – March ‘15

Some key figures April ‘14 – March ‘15

Russian monitoring SO2http://www.kolgimet.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=239

Web article:

http://barentsobserver.com/en/business/2015/08

/metal-giant-pays-pocket-fluff-pollution-fines-

posts-15bn-net-profit-first-six

Dispersion and deposition SO2

Modelling project funded by Ministry of Climate and Environment. Implemented

WRF-EMEP model for the border areas. Dry deposition (left) and wet deposition

(right) year 2012. Unit mg/m2 year

•Emissions of SO2 (100’000 tonnes SO2

annually) and heavy metals (Ni, As, Cu and Co) from Zapolyarny and Nikel.

•Diffusive emissions affect air quality in Nikel.•Areas north of smelters most affected.•Also effects on water and terrestrialenvironment (wet and dry deposition).

•Company in a process of upgrade

Concluding remarks

Stop

Colour of flue gas

Flue gas colour white – grey – black. Related to smelting processes?Other explanations?

10. April 2015, photo

Benjamin F. Berglen

Photo taken 16. May 2013

Emissions of heavy metals

Total emissions not well knownDistribution Zapolyarny – Nikel not well knownDiffusive vs stack assumption not well knownTrends not well known

Many uncertainties and questions