The Russian agency for surveillance of the environment has asked for a compensation of 147.8 billion rubles (1.8 billion euros at the current rate) in mining giant Norilsk Nickel, is involved in a serious oil spill in the Arctic.

In a press release, the federal agency Rosprirodnadzor said to have sent to a subsidiary of Norilsk Nickel this request for "voluntary compensation" equal to one-third of the net profits of the group by 2019.