Evgeny Fedorov, First Vice President, COO, and Head of Nornickel's Polar Division, commented: "You can call the contents of this report by different names: sustainable development, ESG, corporate social responsibility, or responsible business. The labels vary, but the main thing is that there are people behind these numbers. In 2025, Nornickel celebrated its 90th anniversary. The world has changed beyond recognition over this century. We now discuss the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and things that once seemed like science fiction. However, our goal remains the same: we implement projects so that people can live in a decent and comfortable environment, stay healthy and active, enjoy their work, see opportunities for growth, and link their future-and the future of their children-to this region."
In 2025, Nornickel allocated RUB 7.7 billion to regional development. This includes RUB 4.4 billion for the renovation of Norilsk, providing new housing for over a thousand families, as well as building new public spaces and sports and cultural infrastructure.
These investments translate into tangible improvements in the quality of life for employees and local communities. This is reflected in the Russian Ministry of Construction's Urban Environment Quality Index, where Nornickel's host cities consistently show year-on-year growth. Between 2023 and 2024, Norilsk's score increased by 18 points to 243, Monchegorsk by 19 points to 239, and Zapolyarny by 22 points to 244. (Scores over 180 out of a maximum 360 indicate a favorable urban environment).
A large-scale analytical study, Social Portrait of a Citizen, was conducted in 2025, involving over 3,700 residents of Norilsk, Monchegorsk, Zapolyarny, and Nikel. Compared to the first survey in 2018, residents' assessments of their general well-being have improved by 21%, while satisfaction with urban infrastructure, services, and resource provision grew by 31%.
"Care for People" is one of Nornickel's core values, alongside "Efficiency" and "Safety". The average salary at the company reached RUB 216,600 in 2025-nearly twice the national average-while the average headcount exceeded 76,000 employees.
Spending on social programs and employee benefits totaled almost RUB 18 billion in 2025. Nornickel's support system includes health resort treatments, pension and housing programs, and more.
These initiatives resonate with employees. In 2025, the company launched an internal "People Care Index," which stood at 67% in its inaugural year and grew by 4 percentage points in 2026, confirming the effectiveness of Nornickel's social investments.
Environmental well-being remains a top and highly complex priority. Nornickel's Sulfur Programme is Russia's largest environmental initiative and continues to drive down air pollutant emissions in the company's host cities. Compared to 2020, sulfur dioxide emissions have decreased by 39%, largely due to the ongoing implementation of the Sulfur Programme at the Nadezhda Smelter. In total, Nornickel allocated over RUB 89 billion to environmental protection in 2025.
During the reporting year, the company updated its Ecology and Climate Change Strategy. It now features over 270 initiatives with an indicative budget of approximately RUB 247 billion for the 2026-2035 period.
Nornickel's benefits package is one of the best in the industry. It includes voluntary health insurance (VHI) and a wide range of other perks. Particular attention is given to employee health: corporate clinics and medical centers operate in Norilsk, Dudinka, and Monchegorsk, and occupational medicine is actively expanding. All employees are provided with VHI policies, and one in three participates in sports and wellness programs.
Occupational health and industrial safety remain the highest priority. Completely eliminating fatalities is a key strategic objective. In 2025, the
A proactive approach to occupational health and safety is supported by modern digital technologies, which are designed to be perceived by employees as helpers rather than surveillance tools.
Sustainability is deeply integrated into supply chain management. Nornickel takes a responsible approach to supplier collaboration, encouraging partners to adhere to ESG standards and guidelines while managing associated risks. Driven by openness and transparency, the company regularly publishes a Responsible Supply Chain Report detailing its approaches, tools, and the results of supplier audits and assessments.
Nornickel is committed to a high level of disclosure. The 2025 report complies with leading international and national standards: GRI, SASB,
This year also marks the debut of the Regional Atlas-a unique map of Nornickel's socio-environmental projects and investment results across its key regions: Krasnoyarsk Krai, Murmansk Region, and Zabaikalye. The Atlas demonstrates how the sustainability agenda translates into real-world changes: new housing, kindergartens, sports facilities, public spaces, environmental improvements, and a more comfortable urban environment.
Detailed information on Nornickel's sustainability efforts and achievements can be found in the 2025 Sustainability Report and the Regional Atlas, both available on the company's official website.