Environmentalists report oil spills from Rosneft wells on Sakhalin

Oil spills have been discovered near two wells operated by Russian oil company Rosneft (RTS: ROSN) in the north of Sakhalin, non-governmental organization Sakhalin Environmental Watch (EVS) said in a press release on Monday, Interfax reports according to http://www.redorbit.com. The organization said it had received a telephone call on June 1 saying that oil had spilled out in the vicinity of the abandoned village of Piltun, Okha district. EVS examined the area and came to the conclusion that oil from two Rosneft wells was being stolen intensively and in well- organized ways. The press release said that under the law it was Rosneft's duty to guard its wells properly and to take measures to prevent spills. On Monday, EVS sent a description of it findings supplemented with photographs to the Sakhalin prosecutor's office, the regional administration, government environmental watchdog Rosprirodnadzor, and Rosneft subsidiary RN-Sakhalinmorneftegaz (RTS: SKGZ).

A Rosneft source told Interfax: "Work is under way to eliminate the consequences of the incident and to remove and localize the spills."