Page 13 - FSUOGM Week 08 2021

FSUOGM POLICY FSUOGM

Germany, Russia eye joint hydrogen work

RUSSIA GERMANY and Russia are in talks on co-op- hydrogen is also expected to be very clean, as
erating in green hydrogen, German Economy CO2 emissions from its production can be cap-
Russia has both green Minister Peter Altmaier has said, signalling the tured and stored.
and blue hydrogen pair are seeking deepen their energy ties further. Russia is Germany’s biggest gas supplier,
potential. Russia could work with Germany in pro- positioning it as a potential provider of blue
ducing and transporting green hydrogen that hydrogen supplies in the future as well. How-
Germany wants to develop using large-scale ever, Russia also has considerable untapped
wind and solar-powered electrolysers, in order renewable energy potential that could be
to provide carbon-free fuel for industry, energy exploited to develop green hydrogen. Moscow
and transport, the minister said in a webcast on drafted its own five-year hydrogen plan last
February 16. year, under which it plans to gradually replace
Russian Industry Minister Denis Manturov natural gas in Russia’s export pipelines with the
added that Russia was ready to prioritise invest- fuel.
ments in this field. “Russia can offer giant land potential as a
“I am convinced that this intention will be basis to build up solar and wind power, and huge
of interest to German and Russian companies water resources for hydropower,” Stephan Weil,
active in that sector,” he said. the prime minister of Germany’s Lower Saxony
Germany is aiming to become carbon neu- state, commented.
tral by 2050, and sees hydrogen as an important Russia is near to completing its second gas
solution for decarbonising certain industries. In pipeline to Germany, Nord Stream 2. This pipe
a strategy published last summer, though, Berlin and its sister project Nord Stream 1 are capable
said it would only provide funding support for of carrying up to 70% hydrogen and 30% natural
developing green hydrogen and not blue hydro- gas, whereas older Russian export pipelines can
gen, which is derived from natural gas. Blue only handle 20% hydrogen. ™

PROJECTS & COMPANIES

Russia's Norilsk Nickel to convert

mining gear to run on LNG

RUSSIA RUSSIAN mining giant Norilsk Nickel has environmental, social and governance (ESG)
announced plans to produce LNG and convert score after causing Russia’s worst Arctic fuel spill
Norilsk Nickel will some of its heavy mining equipment to run on in May last year. Russian regulators at the start
assess whether it is the fuel in addition to diesel. of this month fined the company $2bn for the
possible to replace The company said in a statement earlier incident, which involved the leakage of 21,000
40% of trucks' fuel this month that the project would significantly tonnes of diesel into rivers and subsoil near
consumption with LNG. reduce its emissions of CO and CO2, NOX and Norilsk in north-west Siberia.
SOX. The pilot stage will involve re-equipping Norilsk Nickel’s efforts to overcome this tar-
dump trucks to run on both LNG and diesel. nish on its reputation were undermined this
Trial operations are scheduled to start in the sec- week, when three workers died on February
ond half of this year. Four BelAZ trucks will be 20 after an Arctic enrichment processing plant
the first to undergo upgrades. owned by the company partially collapsed. The
During the trials, Norilsk Nickel will assess ageing plant was undergoing renovations at the
whether it is possible to replace 40% of the time of the accident.
trucks’ fuel consumption with LNG. It will then “We take full responsibility for the tragic acci-
decide whether to re-equip the entire 30-strong dent and are doing everything we can to support
fleet of trucks that currently operate at the Zapol- the victims and their families at this difficult
yarny copper mine. time,” Norilsk Nickel CEO Vladimir Potanin
Construction of an LNG plant to provide the said in a statement. “The accident happened
fuel is expected to take place between January overnight, due to a severe violation of the safety
2022 and March 2023, the company said. rules. Nornickel has always treated industrial
LNG is seen as a potential solution for reduc- safety as its highest priority. We are undertaking
ing the emissions of remote industrial facilities a full review and are focused on strengthening
such as mines. Norilsk Nickel has access to its our safety efforts even further."
own gas fields which could be used to produce Earlier, the company pledged to spend
the super-cooled fuel. RUB100bn ($1.35bn) over the next five years on
Norilsk Nickel is struggling to improve its improving industrial safety measures. ™

Week 08 24•February•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P13