“Norilsk Nickle” employs over a half of Norilsk’s population and the citizens have rarely protested environmental pollution. Instead more critique came from Greenpeace Russia, and it is hard to say when the conflict started. President Vladimir Putin visited the city in 2010 and announced an increase in environmental fines if the company do not cut out the amount of pollution. This resulted in increase of the company’s investments in environmental measures in production processes. Further measures included the shouting down of 74 years old nickel factor in 2013, which should reduce emission level for 75%. There is also a plan to install equipment at the copper factory that would reduce sulphur dioxide pollution by 75–80% by 2020, but there is no references to other pollutants. Although there are signs that Norilsk is making efforts to combat its high pollution by replacing old equipment with new more environmentally friendly technology, the pollution still occurs. Most lately in September 2016, local people reported heavy pollution that turned the Daldykan River’s water into red. The Company’s official explanation was that heavy rain caused a filtration dam to flood into the river. 

Norilsk Nickel release over 2 million tons of sulphur dioxide and more than 4 million tons of lead, nickel, arsenic, and other heavy metals annually.

The Norils Nickle complex is worth approximately 2% of Russia's GDP.

By 2014, Norilsk Nickel was producing 44% of the world’s palladium, 14% of its platinum, 13% of its nickel and 2% of its copper.