[Ferro-Alloys.com] Russian metals producer Norilsk Nickel has signed a memorandum of understanding with Italy's Techint Group, the company said Monday.

The memorandum builds on contracts signed between Norilsk Nickel and Techint Group on 22 June that aim to decrease the discharge of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere and implement a program to decrease pollution at Norilsk Nickel's metal production facilities.

"Newly created production capacities will guarantee utilization of 95% or more sulphur dioxide from exhaust metal production gases from the Copper plant and Nadezhda plant, producing annually up to 950,000 mt of sulphur which decreases considerably the atmosphere pollution," the company said in the statement.

The memorandum of understanding outlines a joint effort for both companies to exchange necessary information, experience and technologies in order to guarantee the previous contracts execution as well as the development of further mutually beneficial co-operation.

"The company is interested in modernization and improvement of production at our plants and in environmental protection accompanied by the introduction of European ecological standards and requirements, hence we hope that the selected company is up to the required professional level to achieve the goals," Norilsk Nickel's Vladimir Strzhalkovsky said in the statement.