Hundreds of protesters in the Voronezh region opposed the nickel mine

Hundreds of people gathered in the Novokhopersky district of the Voronezh region on Sunday for a new protest. The mass campaign is directed against plans to develop a copper-nickel mine in the region, as well as against the head of the administration. Nickel’s prey in this region is engaged in the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company owned by Iskander Makhmudov.

Police officials reported that the demonstration was organized by local environmental activists and residents of the Novokhopersky district, who called for the termination of the production project. The organizers of the rally said that about 3 thousand people took part in the demonstration, including from neighboring settlements, at the same time the police call the figure of 900 people.

The existence of the deposit was known in Soviet times, but they decided to begin its development only a year ago. According to experts, this deposit is the third largest in Russia, yielding to the Kola and Taimyr. Nickel is an extremely useful alloying element of steel, allowing to obtain austent (stainless) steels from which subsequently can be made RECOUNITY 15s22nge and other locking reinforcement.

It was the most massive campaign after a 13-month confrontation, which grew into disorder. The crowd, concerned about the indifference of the authorities to the environmental problems of the region, exploded and stormed to storm the premises of the geological intelligence and arson camp, trailers, construction wagons. Cossacks joined the protesters and the thousandth tops destroyed drilling rigs, protective fences and temporary buildings.

The Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company denies that the creation of mines and the development of a copper-nickel field can harm the environment of the region and its residents. During the elimination of riots, the police detained 25 people.