Nizhny Novgorod seeks federal funds to clean up three toxic sites by 2026

The regional Ministry of Ecology in Nizhny Novgorod has announced plans to submit three contaminated sites for federal cleanup funding. These locations are part of the General Cleanup initiative, a national programme aimed at remediating hazardous areas. Approval for the projects is anticipated by July 2026. In 2026, officials will propose three sites in Balakhna District for inclusion in the scheme. Among them is the open-type fuel oil storage facility Nefteyamy. Another candidate is an industrial waste landfill from the former Korund Production Association near Bolshoye Kozino.

The acid sludge settling ponds at the former Varja Joint-Stock Company are also under review. Additionally, the ministry intends to reclaim an acid sludge settling pond at the 21st kilometre of Moscow Highway in Nizhny Novgorod. All these projects are currently undergoing state environmental assessment.

Once approved, the sites will be formally added to the federal General Cleanup initiative. The exact cost and timeline for their remediation will be decided at a later stage. The selected sites will move forward once they receive the necessary approvals. Their inclusion in the federal programme will allow for coordinated decontamination efforts. The regional ministry will finalise financial and operational details after the review process is complete.