Polar Division of MMC “Norilsk Nikel”, Norilsk, Russia:

E. V. Parievskiy, Head of Science and Technology Office, e-mail: parievskiyev@nk.nornik.ru
V. B. Fomichev, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, Chief Specialist of Pyrometallurgical Production (Science and Technology Office)
V. A. Zaytsev, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, Deputy Head of Science and Technology Office
T. A. Khalikova, Chief Specialist of Science and Technology Office

The permafrost penetrates the ground into the depth of 800 m, the everlasting frosts accompany the gusting wind — those are the conditions under which Polar Division of “Norilsk Nickel” operates. The core operations of the company are located here, on the Taimyr peninsula, famous for the most severe climate in Eurasian continent. Step by step the new industrial region made communications with the rest of the world. A narrow-gage railroad stretched from the river Norilskaya where construction materials were delivered via Pyasino water system. The first moor was erected in Dudinka. Gradually the production facilities were surrounded by infrastructure. Afterwards a brick plant and a pilot metallurgical converter were built. At the moment Avraamy Zavenyagin was the director of Norilsk Works. Norilsk metallurgists of those times were no strangers to innovations as nowadays. They developed a lot of unique novel designs in geology, metallurgy, concentration, etc. A discovery of a new mineral resource base offered new fascinating challenges, and in 1964 the Norilsk Mining & Metallurgical Works was declared to be All-Union top-priority Komsomol project. On the threshold of 1970–1980ies the most modern facility of the USSR nonferrous metallurgy – Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant — was commissioned. In 1979 Copper Plant launched the gradual transition to the modern technology of smelting in fluidized bed furnaces called after their inventor as Vanyukov's furnaces. At the turn of the new century Norilsk Nickel started the next innovative stage, and today its Corps of Engineers proceeds with technological modifications in spite of any external circumstances that finally will strengthen Norilsk Nickel position of the world leader of the industry.