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Каспинфо август 2002 |
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Название: Экологические проблемы Каспия на англ. языке Главные Пункты: * В ближайшее время Россия и Иран могут подписать протокол о сохранении каспийских биоресурсов, и в первую очередь - осетра. По данным Госкомрыболовства 90% мировой популяции осетра сосредоточено в Каспии, 7% - в Азовском море. * Министеpство экологии и пpиpодных pесуpсов Азербайджана представило проект Hационального Плана Действий по защите Каспия и его пpибpежной полосы. В обсуждении проекта пpимут участие НПО, пpедставители госстpуктуp и междунаpодных оpганизаций. * Компания ВР-Азербайджан получила официальное разрешение на утилизацию буровых шламов в Селенджике путем биоремедиации, сообщил министр экологии и природных ресурсов Г. Багиров. ВР намерена утилизировать буровые шламы как путем биоремедиации, так и путем термической обработки на Карадагском цементном заводе. * Комиссия по ОВОС, Нидерланды, выполнявшая экспертизу ОВОСС проектов БТД и трубопровода Баку-Эрзрум по заказу Правительства Грузии, прежде чем выдавать лицензию на прокладку трубопроводов, считает необходимым: - изучить альтернативные пути прохождения трубопровода, т.к. проект предполагает его прокладку по экологически уязвимым территориям Боржоми/Бакуриани, Цалка; - подготовить адекватный план восстановительных работ после сооружения трубопроводов; - в ОВОСС не предусмотрены компенсации местному населению. * и др. сообщения. (07.08.2002) Полный Текст Экологические проблемы Каспия на англ. языке Экологические проблемы Каспия на англ. языке *** /13:11 06.08.2002/ Russia and Iran likely to sign accord on Caspian bioresources Moscow, August 6, 2002. (CNA). The Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia could sign an accord on preservation of biological resources of the Caspian Sea, State Fishery Committee Chief Yevgeny Azdratenko said, IRNA reported. Prime-TASS quoted him as saying on Monday that five Caspian states which are Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, use Caspian fishing grounds. Representatives of the littoral states have met 11 times, but so far they have not agreed on joint measures for saving sturgeon resources, Nazdratzneko said. "The talks with Iran are making headway, and things are not working out very well with the other countries," he said. He praised Iran's recognizing this year Russia's right to export black caviar to world markets. Of all Caspian states, only Iran had this right thus far. According the state fishery committee, up to 90 percent of black caviar is produced in the Caspian Sea and seven percent in the Azov Sea. Russia is going to export 29 tons of caviar this year, which is 26 percent less that in 2001, when 40 tons was exported. Nazdratenko said sturgeon breeding at nursery farms was essential for reproduction of this valuable fish. Nine farms on the Volga River and one in Daghestan release sturgeon fry into the Caspian Sea. A Terek sturgeon farm, destroyed during the intrusion of Chechen rebels into Daghestan, is being restored. It is expected to breed up to five million fry a year. A total of 60 million young sturgeon will be released into the Caspian this year. International organizations have noted and approved this work. CNA/www.caspian.ru *** Press release 19 July 2002 Impact assessment on Georgia oil and gas pipelines incomplete The Social and Environmental Impact Assessment study about two proposed oil and gas pipelines that run across the Republic of Georgia has three essential shortcomings. This can be read in an advice that the independent Commission for Environmental Impact Assessment in the Netherlands has prepared at the request of the Minister of Environment of Georgia. Oil and gas pipelines crossing the territory of the Republic of Georgia will be con-structed by a consortium of companies led by British Petroleum. The Minister of Envi-ronment of Georgia has to grant a license before construction can start. Before the Minister will decide on the license an extensive study has been conducted to deter-mine the impact of the two pipelines on the environment and on the people and com-munities living along the transect. This study is called an environmental and social impact assessment study. Such a study in support of decision-making is mandatory according to the law in Georgia and common practice in most of the countries in the world. The Minister of Environment of Georgia asked the Netherlands Minister of Environ-ment for assistance to judge the adequacy of information of this study. The Nether-lands has a lot of expertise with this kind of studies for pipeline projects. The Nether-lands Commission for Environmental Impact Assessment is an independent advisory body that advises governments of countries about development activities. Experts of the Commission worked together with experts of Georgia to judge the adequacy of information of this study. The resulting advice is submitted to the Minister of the Envi-ronment. Conclusion and recommendation: The assessment study contains much relevant information. Nevertheless, there are three essential issues that are lacking in sub-stance. The Netherlands Commission advises the government of Georgia to fill in these shortcomings before issuing the license. These issues are: 1. The pipelines cross the highly sensitive areas of Borjomi/Bakuriyani and Tsalka. The first area is known for its Borjomi water. Moreover, the area is a well-known ski resort. The Tsalka area is also sensitive because considerable has consider-able to produce much high quality water as well. The Commission advises to study alternative routes to avoid these sensitive areas. A comparison of impacts should be presented for the different alternative routes. 2. A plan to restore the area after construction of the pipeline, the so-called rein-statement plan, is inadequate and not according to standards. Therefore, a con-crete reinstatement plan should be prepared. 3. Information on compensation to individual persons and communities that are af-fected is not provided in the study. For the construction of each pipeline a labour force of about 2500 people is re-quired. According to the study 50 - 80% of the workers can be recruited from Georgia. The Commission stated that it is feasible that about 80% of the workers are locally recruited. It is advised that information on individual as well as commu-nity compensation should be provided. Moreover, information on other forms of compensation should be included. A scenario should be developed in which 80% of the workers during construction of the pipelines are locally recruited and em-ployed. Note for the editorial office The complete text of the advice can be found on the website of the Commission. (www.commissiemer.nl). For more information you can contact, · Mr Jules Scholten Direct telephone number +31 30 234 76 02 Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) *** BP'S ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT ON FISHING AT SANGACHAL Following the Stage-1 of the bp Shahaniz project, fishing access to the Sangachal terminal is limited. Bp currently holds negotiations and consultations with Azerbalig State concern on replacement and compensation of the fishing nets in the Sangachal bay. Bp's survey identified that nets owned only by Azerbalig are legal in the bay, while others are illegal, including nets of leisure fishermen who considerably enlarge their family incomes through such activity. Bp has the data on the economic valuation of such illegal fishing for the local population. Even though the survey indicates that the fishing represents the highest economic value for the locals, bp has decided not to compensate illegal fishing, since according to them, locals have an opportunity of using alternative water resources. Bp states that illegal nets should be removed to avoid damages of legal ones. 46 Electronic Bulletin: Caucasus Environmental News CENN *** NATIONAL WORK PLAN ON CASPIAN SEA PROTECTION A draft national work plan on the protection of the Caspian Sea and its 100 m belt of coastal zone has been presented to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. According to the Minister, Huseyn Bagirov, this draft was discussed in a special forum. A real strategic work plan for preservation of the sea will be developed on the basis of similar documents elaborated in all five littoral states and the cross-border diagnostic analyses. The Minister said that they made priority setting for protection together with large companies, including bp. So far, 55 problems of the Caspian Sea have been identified. One of the priorities will be the strengthening of legislation, for example, restriction of certain coastal activities. 46 Electronic Bulletin: Caucasus Environmental News CENN *** NEW SANGACHAL TERMINAL ENDANGERS PASTURES About 438.6 hectares of pastures neighboring the Sangachal terminal will be lost after construction of a new terminal for the storage and processing of gas condensate as part of the Shahdaniz gas export project. The construction of a drainage channel to protect the terminal from flooding will be a significant problem. The flooding can affect nearly 30 percent of neighboring pastures. Bp is currently studying the grassed territories, which is managed by the Gobustan cattle-breeding farm. Compensatory measures will be taken if there are definite cases of rights violations of cattle breeders. One of the compensations will be allocation of equivalent plots to shepherds; these compensations will pass through the local authorities and executives from the Ministry of Agriculture. Azernews, July 3-9 46 Electronic Bulletin: Caucasus Environmental News CENN *** BP HOLDS SECOND HSE TRAINING Bp's Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) department held the second training session for bp's main contractors and other external companies in the Enterprise Center. The training aimed to help development and implementation of specific systems enabling achievement of the best practices to give opportunity to other companies to compare their own systems with that of bp. Bp aims to introduce and promote new HSE culture in Azerbaijan and to involve both its employees and Contractors in this process. Representatives of AZEL, Bakond, Bon Accord, Cape, Petrochem, Safe Hands, Az.marketing Society, Waterman, Azerkprp, METAC, Technological Equipment, Debet Uniform, BBTV, KMT, etc. attended the training. Bp is planning to continue workshops on ethics, supply management, research and development. HSE workshops will be held monthly in the Enterprise Center to help its contractors and foreign companies to learn more about bp's rules, regulations and work systems. Bp, on behalf of its partners - International Operating Company (ALOC) in Azerbaijan and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil export pipeline projects, opened the Enterprise Center in Baku in May 2002. The main aim of this Center is to help local companies to develop their business in line of major sector - oil and gas development in Azerbaijan. Azernews, July 17-23 46 Electronic Bulletin: Caucasus Environmental News CENN *** BP'S NEW PROJECT Bp Azerbaijan has obtained sanction from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan for bio-remedial utilization of drilling wastes on the Serenji field in Garadag. Bp executives in London are very much interested in this project. The company's environmental manager Mr. Gallagher said that in case if the implementation is successful, this method will be a revolutionary technology. However, bp intends to utilize drilling wastes applying a different method: through thermal treatment at the Garadag Cement Factory, where environmental impact assessment of this methodology was already implemented. The document of assessment was forwarded to the Ministry of Ecology. Bp hopes to receive permit of thermal treatment usage from the Ministry at least for a year; one year performance will detect if this method is suitable, said Mr. Gallagher. Bp is already applying this expensive, but ideal treatment possibility in its Aberdeen refinery. Azernews, July 17-23, 46 Electronic Bulletin: Caucasus Environmental News CENN |