In the Voronezh region they rally against the development of nickel deposits

Last weekend in Borisoglebsk, about 5 thousand people gathered for a rally against the development of copper-nickel deposits in the Voronezh region, according to police estimates. The organizers believe that there were twice as many people and promise to continue large-scale events, including in the regional capital. The Public Council for Control over Mining Development promises to bring up the issue of growing protest sentiments in the region at one of its upcoming meetings.

A rally against the development of nickel deposits took place in Borisoglebsk last Sunday on Lenin Square. According to eyewitnesses, there were so many participants that some of them also occupied the streets adjacent to the square. The rally was sanctioned by the authorities; no incidents were reported during the rally. According to law enforcement agencies, about 5 thousand people took part in the rally. The organizers of the action clarify that it included residents of Novokhopersk, Elan-Kolen, as well as protesters from the Volgograd region. In total, a convoy of more than 400 vehicles arrived in the city. “For Borisoglebsk with a population of 65 thousand people, this was impressive,” said one of the eyewitnesses.

A notification to the administration about the action was submitted by an individual - Valentina Bobrova, one of the activists of the Green Ribbon social movement specially created to combat the development of nickel deposits. She told Kommersant yesterday that “about 10 thousand people actually took part in the rally”: “The resolution alone was signed by 6.5 thousand.”

Protesters fear for the fate of the Khopersky Nature Reserve, in the immediate vicinity of which nickel mining is planned, as well as for the overall environmental situation in the region. At the rally on Sunday, in particular, there were calls for the authorities to introduce a ban on mining.

Let us remind you that this is not the first rally against the development of nickel deposits, and the number of protest participants is growing. So, in mid-May in Borisoglebsk, according to the police, about a thousand people gathered for a rally. The organizers themselves then also insisted that there were actually twice as many participants.

Protests are also being held in the neighboring Volgograd region, where they are also dissatisfied with the possible mining of nickel in the Novokhopersky district. The rallies took place in Uryupinsk, and the position of the protesters there is supported by the local administration and United Russia members.

In Voronezh, protests are still very small and attract only a few dozen people. However, Ms. Bobrova told Kommersant yesterday that a rally is planned in the regional capital at the end of June, possibly quite large - including at the expense of residents of Borisoglebsk who are ready to come to Voronezh.

The competition for the development of the Elanskoye and Elkinskoye deposits took place on May 22 - it was attended by MMC Norilsk Nickel and structures of the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC), which ultimately became the winner of the tender. Last week, Grigory Rudoy, director of mining production at UMMC-Holding LLC, said that at the beginning of 2013 the company expects to begin prospecting and appraisal work, and then geological exploration, completing it by 2016–2017. Then the St. Petersburg company RIVS-project and the Finnish Outokumpu will develop design and estimate documentation for an underground mine and a mining and processing plant, consisting of two buildings. They will be put into operation by 2022. In the first year of operation, it is planned to produce 50 thousand tons of ore, bringing this figure to 1.5 million tons by 2027 (300 thousand tons of concentrate). At the same time, UMMC plans to spend 3.6 billion rubles. on the socio-economic development of the Novokhopersky district, where the deposits are located. As stated, 240 million rubles. will be sent this year, but the company does not disclose for what purposes.

A source familiar with the position of the regional government believes that “people’s fears are quite understandable”: “Perhaps what is taking place here is not so much a protest against a specific company and field development, but rather a fear of the unknown, since people still have little idea of how such a project will be implemented.” big project." Kommersant's interlocutor added that the regional authorities will monitor the actions of UMMC, including the creation of a special public council for this purpose.

The head of the public council for control over field development, VSU professor Nikolai Chernyshov noted that he plans to invite representatives of the executive and legislative authorities of the region to the next meeting, and one of the issues on the council’s agenda will be a discussion of social unrest in the region and neighboring areas. “However, first the council wants to receive and study the program of the new investor - I am surprised that it has not yet been presented,” Mr. Chernyshov emphasized.

One of the Voronezh political strategists, on condition of anonymity, suggested that if the protests do not subside, then “anti-nickel” sentiments could affect the “almost impeccable reputation of Governor Alexei Gordeev” and potentially affect the political situation in the region.

Maria Starikova, Olga Demyanko, Evgeny Timoshinov

There was protest in Borisoglebsk