RF Duma suggests increasing amount of fines for oil spills (photo)

The amount of fine for oil spills should be multiplied, IAA PortNews journalist cites Duma Deputy Oleg Lebedev as saying in Murmansk at the ‘round table’ meeting dedicated to eco-risks associated with handling of crude and oil products.

According to him, there is a number of gaps in the legislation when it comes to toughening of hazardous production facility’s standards and environmental insurance requirements. “Environmental damage caused by oil spills should not be close to oil product production profit, - Oleg Lebedev said. - The fines should be as high as tens millions of rubles.”

According to Vyacheslav Popov, Chairman of Murmansk Duma, the following issues should be legally regulated: compulsory insurance of eco-risks by oil producing and refining companies operating in the Arctic area of Russia, determination of zones free of oil & gas activities in the Barents and White Sea, taking into consideration of findings when evaluating of oil spill impact on the environment.

As Natalya Leshchinskaya, Chairman of the Murmansk Duma Environmental Committee, said at the meeting, recommendations based on the discussion results will be given to the authorities and the companies which can loose their licenses and authorizations to work if they fail to prove their ability to prevent incidents. 

Director General of ECOSPAS JV Andrei Aprelenko said: “Though oil producers try to minimize risks, the numbers tell the stories best. Last year, our company participated in 25 oil spill response operations. I hope this meeting will give an impetus to legislation improvement and will enhance the level of companies’ preparedness. A comprehensive approach is required with the priority given to everything: equipment, personnel, financial and professional resources. I would not say everything is at a zero level but there are enough problems, especially in the Arctic. Globally, there is no enough experience of operation under such conditions so far”.