Ecology Ministry fines oil and gas producers for environment pollution

The Caspian Complex Ecology Observation Division of the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry of Azerbaijan reported the results of observation of the oil activities this year.

As facts of violation of ecological legal provisions have been identified, employees of the Environment Protection Division carried out investigations at facilities and organizations that committed these infringements, the Ecology Ministry said on Friday.

The investigation revealed that wastewaters of mixed origin was thrown into the sea from oilfield platforms at the block of Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli fields and at field Shah Deniz in the Azerbaijani national sector of the Caspian and that drilling mud was utilized wrongly.

In this connection, BP was fined for 593,948 manat following the 2010 infringements and for 46,583 manat in 2011.

Bahar Energy Operating Company violated environmental protection legal requirements under production of hydrocarbons (water basin pollution, and incorrect use of hard waste) and, as a result was fined for 10,000 manat as a legal entity.

Investigations carried out at oil production units Oil Rocks, May 28, and Absheronneft of the production division Azneft revealed the facts of throwing industrial wastewaters into the Caspian Sea and emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere. Azneft was fined for 35,730 manat, and its management was ordered to eliminate shortcomings.

Investigation of the ecological situation at oilfields Neftchala, Khylly, Durovdag-Babazan, and Ramany operated by Neftchala Operating Company Ltd. revealed violations that were included into protocol. The Operating Company was fined for 7,300 manat for water pollution and ordered to eliminate shortcomings.

Penalty sanctions were also applied against other facilities that violated legal provisions.


/Trend/