Azerbaijan develops national plan to prevent and eliminate oil spills at sea

Azerbaijan developed a national plan to prevent and liquidate oil spills at sea, Kamaladdin Heydarov, Azerbaijani Minister of Emergency Situations, said at the forum KazEnergy in Astana today.

"Presently, Azerbaijan developed a national plan to prevent and liquidate oil spills at sea. A specialized emergency rescue service, having all necessary equipment and personnel, operates as part of the Ministry of Emergency Situations," Heydarov said.

Azerbaijani Minister of Emergency Situations delivered a report on "Politics. Cooperation of the Caspian countries to prevent oil and industrial pollution of the marine area" within the "Lessons of the Gulf catastrophe. Caspian Sea: ways to reduce the technological risks" during the 5th Eurasian Energy Forum.

There is a need for a regional body to implement the rescue operations, taking into account lessons learned from the world disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, minister said.

"The Caspian emergency rescue service under the Azerbaijani Ministry of Emergency Situations has sufficient forces in accordance with international conventions. It may serve as an authorized regional body," Heydarov said.

However, besides the Caspian countries, major oil companies operating in the Caspian region must have a concern in preventing and eliminating man-caused risks, he said.

The Fifth Eurasian Forum KazEnergy was launched in Kazakhstan on Oct. 5. The main theme of the event is the "Energy Map of Eurasia: the balance of risks and opportunities". The heads of state bodies of Kazakhstan and foreign countries, top management of the world's leading oil and energy companies, representatives of business community and leading experts attend the event. The Kazakh Association of Oil & Gas and Energy Complex, KazEnergy, is the founder of the Forum.


/Trend/