1. 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.
I.R. IRAN
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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
1. 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
2. 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
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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.
