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Каспинфо март 2001 |
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Название: Материалы на английском - IV Главные Пункты: * Электронный бюллетень "The Caspian". В выпуске: Россия - спорная природоохранная политика компании Лукойластраханьморнефть; Азербайджан - информация об общественных слушаниях компании ОГУЗ; Иран - встреча участников проекта по охране сибирского журавля; Туркменистан - нефтяные магнаты начали бурение в туркменской части Каспия и др. * Все основные реки Чечни, впадающие в Терек, оказались зараженными в результате утечек нефти с кустарных нефтеперегонных заводов этой республики. (27.03.2001) Полный Текст Материалы на английском - IV "The Caspian" IN THIS ISSUE AZERBAIJAN PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR OGHUZ OPERATING COMPANY IRAN STAKEHOLDERS MEETING OF THE SIBERIAN CRANE CONSERVATION PROJECT TREE PLANTING DAY IN IRAN GREEN FILM FESTIVAL TURKMENISTAN: DRAGON OIL BEGINS TO DRILL IN THE TURKMEN SECTION OF THE CASPIAN CASPIAN CONCERN GROUP IS FORMED IN TURKMENISTAN RUSSIA ECOLOGICAL POLICY FOLLOWED BY LUKOILASTRAKHANMORNEFT' COMPANY WAS DISPUTED STATUS OF THE CASPIAN SEA ECOSYSTEM MARINE ECOLOGIST SCHOOL SEMINAR "BEYOND OIL AND GAS IN THE CASPIAN NATIONAL ECOLOGICAL FORUM OF RUSSIA PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CONTACT INFORMATION AZERBAIJAN PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR OGHUZ OPERATING COMPANY-a branch company of ExxonMobil, is supposed to start drilling works 75 km remote from Baku city. Oguz Operating Company is operator of Agreement on exploration, development and production sharing of Oguz offshore block. The production Sharing Agreement between Mobil Exploration and Producing Azerbaijan (50%) and NafCo (50%), affiliated company of the State Oil Company (SOCAR), was signed in August 1997 and ratified by the Azerbaijani Parliament (Milli Mejlis) in December 1997. The company carried out studying of the original environmental condition in the 227 sq. km. area of Oguz offshore block in May 2000 and compiled it into Environmental Impact Assessment (EAI). The document was heard during the public hearings on February 28th 2001. From the public point of view the document was lacking information about production waste management, monitoring, and emergency response to oil spills. Namely, the public was doubted the Company would oblige to using water based drilling mud, but not synthetic and if there is an opportunity to tighten inspection over the drilling and waste management procedures. Indeed ExxonMobil follows its environmental policy, which prescribes observation of all environmental laws and standard acts, which are in force in Azerbaijan, and collaboration with the government and state bodies. So, it is a prerogative of the Azerbaijani State Committee on Ecology and Nature Utilization to develop the monitoring scheme for Oguz offshore block. The public was concerned with the low toxic discharges of production wastes to both the atmosphere and to the Caspian Sea. In fact, the public claims were addressed first to the State Committee on Ecology and Nature Utilization, the inspecting body, but not to the Company itself. For more information please contact the editor. IRAN THE FIRST STAKEHOLDERS MEETING OF THE SIBERIAN CRANE CONSERVATION PROJECT, which is being implemented by the cooperation of I.R.Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia & Kazakhstan & is backed up by GEF, was held in the city of Fereidoonkenar, on the southern coast of Caspian, on March 1st. The deputy director of Department of Environment of Iran, Mr. A. Najafi chaired the meeting. Several national & local key executives from DOE, provincial & local authorities, environmental NGOs, students from local schools & other stakeholders participated in the meeting. Fereidoonkenar is where these rare & endangered birds winter & great effort is being made by the government, local NGOs, & international outfits like GEF, CMS (Convention on Migratory Species), ICF (International Crane Foundation) & ... to Save the western flock of the Siberian Cranes, which their numbers are reported to be less than 10. The objectives of the project were explained by Mr. Najafi & Specialists. Related issues & problems were then discussed by the participants. At the end of the meeting, number of participants, who had rendered the best articles & drawings in regards to the Siberian Cranes were given prizes by authorities present. It was interesting that more than 70% of the prizewinners were female. This indicates the increased level of environmental awareness among this portion of the society. TREE PLANTING DAY IN IRAN: March 5th is the "Tree Planting" day in Iran. Many meetings have been held in almost every community in the country during the past week, to discuss the role of the trees in the environment & emphasis on the importance of the participation of the people in planting ornamental & commercial trees & preservation of the forests. Almost 30% of the temperate rain forest of the southern coast of Caspian has been lost or degraded during the last 3 decades. The general public is very much concerned about this issue & the responsible authorities are making great efforts to implement reforestation projects & find ways for recovery. GREEN FILM FESTIVAL: Department of Environment of Iran sponsored an environmental film festival, titled "The Green Film Festival", in Teheran & provincial capitals from Feb. 24 to March 3. At the Caspian coastal provinces, more than 100 environmental films & video tapes where screened for thousands of spectators who also visited the environmental exhibition, which were set up by the local green NGOs, in 3 locations along the coast. The primary analysis indicate that people showed great interest in environmental issues will participate in related programs, if the favorable grounds be prepared for them. TURKMENISTAN DRAGON OIL BEGINS TO DRILL IN THE TURKMEN SECTION OF THE CASPIAN-the company has started to drill its first exploitation slits off the shelf of the Caspian in Cheleken oil field. Representatives of the government of Turkmenistan, leaders of diplomatic missions, Douche bank, European bank and the representatives of mass media took part in the official ceremony, which gave the beginning of drilling. By estimation of the Turkmen and American experts reserves of oil in the Turkmen section of the Caspian make up to 60mb. For more information please contact: www.tmpress.gov.tm CASPIAN CONCERN GROUP IS FORMED IN TURKMENBASHY . First round table of the CEP/Public Participation and Awareness Component conducted in Turkmenbashy city gathered representatives of Local Authorities, Government Institutions, NGO's, School Ecological Clubs and individuals concerned about the environmental issues pertaining to the Caspian. Participants discussed the environmental issues faced by their community and came to an agreement to form a Caspian Concern Group. This group will come up with an action plan and will ensure coordinated work towards addressing the local environmental issues. CCG will also, facilitate the exchange of information and create a better network of local environmental organizations. For more information please contact the editor RUSSIA ECOLOGICAL POLICY FOLLOWED BY LUKOILASTRAKHANMORNEFT' COMPANY WAS DISPUTED during public hearings and seminars held in January 2001 in Astrakhan. The pursued policy covers 3 major lines: production waste management, emergency service/ risk appraisal and environmental monitoring that will be followed by reparatory program. The Company started background environmental monitoring in 1997, i.e. 2 years before survey drilling in the North Caspian was initiated, since 1999 it is completed with impact monitoring. It includes a wide variety of problems: hydrometeorology, geodynamic processes, pollution loading (with consideration to that coming with the Volga river runoff), microbiology, commercial bioresources of the Caspian Sea, and these studies are executed by a number of research and academic institutions in Russia. Lukoil declares "Zero discharge principle" that implies that all wastes resulting from drilling and other sea works are transported onshore and treated there. 10% of the total expenses on the development of the license site in the sea are to be allocated for providing environmental security of the region. STATUS OF THE CASPIAN SEA ECOSYSTEM and bioresources on the threshold of the XXI century was discussed at the annual Report Session of the Caspian Fisheries Research Institute (KaspNIRKh) 16-18 January 2001. Reports presented by the leading experts from Astrakhan, Dagestan, Kalmykia and Azerbaijan featured major changes in the Caspian ecosystem in the course of the XX century, achievements gained by the oldest fisheries institute in Russia (in 1997 KaspNIRKh celebrated its hundredth anniversary) as well as prospects and forecasts for fisheries and fish culture. What have we got now and what to expect? The former USSR sturgeon catches amounted in general 10-15 thousand tons, in 2000 the total CIS sturgeon catch was less 1 thousand tons. Last year the Volga river fishermen underused the regional quota of 555 tons and harvested 450 tons. In 2000 Russia delivered to the world market about 40 tons of caviar - 2.5 times less than the previous year - that would inevitably result in the increase of the world market prices. Two main factors, fishing at the sea and poaching at rivers, lead gradually to collapse in sturgeon stocks, at that, the illegal catch was estimated to be 11-13 times greater than the official one. Just in Russia as many as fisheries and border services confiscated 33 tons of caviar. If the situation persists, a total prohibition of sturgeon fisheries will be introduced in 2002. To improve situation KaspNIRKh proposes: establish state monopoly on sturgeon fishing, promote international cooperation and signing agreement between all Caspian littoral states. JANUARY 25, 2001, WAS THE OPENING DAY FOR MARINE ECOLOGIST SCHOOL based in the Caspian Fisheries Research Institute This event is the next phase of the Caspian Floating University activities. The main objectives of the IOC-UNESCO "Floating University" project in the Caspian are to offer support to the countries of the region in extension of sea ecosystem research and improvement of methods aimed to sustainable development and management of commercial bioresources, as well as provide them important assistance in training of marine ecologists and capacity building. At the opening ceremony senior pupils and students from colleges and universities heard about environmental problems of the Caspian Sea, visited aqua museum and the fisheries museum, saw films made by the young scientists showing beauty of underwater world. Young people were invited to enter the following classes: oceanography, hydrobiology, fish biology, Caspian seal, and underwater studies. The School program will include various excursions, Caspian News/January 2001 - Russia 26-30 JANUARY 2001 A SEMINAR "BEYOND OIL AND GAS IN THE CASPIAN: The Role of NGOs in Finding Sustainable Solutions to Economic Development and Environmental Protection" under ISAR Caspian programme was held in Astrakhan, Russia. NGO representatives from Kazakhstan, Georgia, Russia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, members of ISAR Caspian programme Council and ISAR staff, trainers and guests (ROLL, OKIOC, CEP, US AID, Shell Center, et al.) attended to the meetings. Different kinds of alternatives for marine bioresources/aquaculture, alternative energy, ecotourism and recreation, sustainable agriculture/land use were discussed. Comparative evaluation of economic effectiveness of developing the Caspian region based on nonrenewable resources (calculating damage inflicted on the sea ecosystem) and alternative resources was presented. NGO representatives were familiarized with strategies and methods to work with local business, international structures, governmental bodies and Mass media. ISAR information service: www.ecoline.ru/caspinfo FEBRUARY 5, 2001, THE NATIONAL ECOLOGICAL FORUM OF RUSSIA WAS HELD IN MOSCOW. The main issue discussed - "Ecological Doctrine of Russia for Sustainable Development Strategy". Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, sent a welcome address to the participants of the Forum and committed Administration officers to consider requests expressed by the speakers. In the opinion of most participants development of Ecological Doctrine of Russia could be regarded as an important public initiative at the beginning of the new millennium, a background for Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2002. It will define ecological guidelines for economic development of the country with regard to natural and cultural features of the regions as well as their capacities. "Providing the personal support from the President of RF, Ecological Doctrine is capable of becoming a social factor to consolidate the Russian society as it can draw millions of citizens sincerely concerned with protection of natural heritage and decreasing risks of global disasters, to cooperation with the Federal Center" stated Vladimir Torlopov, Chairman Committee, Federation Council on Social Policy. PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Please send us your contact information if you are interested in working together with an NGO, initiative group or Eco club in the Caspian region. CONTACT INFORMATION Please send your inquires and feedback to the editor of "The Caspian" at: Shokhrat A. Orazov, PPA Turkmenistan E-mail: shokhrat@yahoo.com *** Dirty Oil published by Transitions Online KIZLYAR REGION, DAGESTAN, Russia--"Hiding in the basements during the battle in Grozny last winter we melted the snow to get some water to drink. It was pure poison," says Malik Salgireev, 53, a former resident of the Chechen capital. "The snow was mixed with the soot from burning refineries and chemical plants scattered all over the city. The burning oil wells became a common detail of the Chechen urban landscape--we called them 'Berezovsky's torches.' [after influential Russian business tycoon Boris Berezovsky]." After Chechnya gained de facto independence in 1996, 96 kilometers of the Chechen section of the Baku-Novorossiisk pipeline were divided among different warlords who controlled homemade refinery plants fed by siphoned-off oil. The trade of this low-grade fuel was one of the main sources of funds for the rebels. Chechen Warlord Shamil Basayev's invasion into Dagestan in August 1999 began two weeks after the Russian authorities decided not to use the pipeline for oil transport but to deliver it from Makhachkala to Novorossiisk by railroad tank trucks. After three months of fighting in December 1999, the Russian military press-service circulated information about almost 2,500 refineries captured by advancing Russian troops. In October 1999, when Russian forces launched the bombardment of Chechnya, the first objects to be destroyed were the refineries and oil wells. "It will cut the bandits from their sources of funds," then- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin repeated at press conferences. As the primitive industrial infrastructure was destroyed, the environmental devastation began. Oil poured out of wells and soaked into the soil. It has gradually streamed down into irrigation ditches and into the rivers. All the main Chechen rivers--the Sunzha, the Jalka, the Yaman-Su, the Yarik-Su, the Aksay --flow into the Terek, the largest river in the region, and then into the Caspian Sea. Along with the oil, the water carries a poisonous amount of different chemicals, mainly non-ferrous metals. The rushy Terek delta is a place where sturgeon spawn in April and May. According to the Fishery Department of the Dagestani Agriculture Ministry, 90 percent of Russian sturgeon live in the Caspian Sea, and 80 percent of the school spawns in the Terek delta. The delta was covered by a 4- to 5-centimeter-thick oil film for several months last year. The dead fish still lay decaying in the reeds as the oil film prevents oxygenation of the water and all the life forms in the water die. Ilgar Shahmardanov, an expert at the Dagestani Nature-Preserving Maritime Service recalls: "When the pollution of the delta started in December 1999, the PDK [the maximum allowed concentration] for oil was exceeded 100-130 times. We rang all the alarm bells." The extreme pollution of the Terek was reported to the Russian State Committee for Ecology in March 2000 and the Dagestani authorities asked the Russian government to undertake urgent measures to cut off the sources of pollution on Chechen territory. It was decided to prevent pollution of the Terek by collecting the oil in so-called oil granaries (trenches in clay soil) and by burning off the rest of the oil. The decision didn't radically improve the ecological situation, and even the fulfillment of it was rather questionable, as Dagestani ecological experts had no access to Chechnya at that time. Arslan Abdullaev, a Dagestani water specialist, says, "The population of Chechnya and Dagestan living around polluted rivers is a subject of a possible ecological catastrophe. Although they don't use river water for drinking but take it from the wells, the spread of the pollution is possible. The chlorine that is used everywhere to process water, is getting in contact with phenol [the main toxic component of the oil pollution] and turning into chlor-phenol, which is hundreds of times more toxic." In addition to the landmines and unexploded shells and bombs, the chemical pollution of the Chechen land will negatively affect the region's agriculture for many years. "Only Allah knows how many years will it take to make our land clean," laments Marika Magomadova, a refugee from Novogroznensky . "Everything stinks with oil and chemicals--even the water from the tap. I wouldn't give my daughters the fruits and vegetables from my own kitchen garden--I don't want to poison them." |