Azerbaijan, Baku, 8 March/corr. Trend I.Khalilova / The World Bank (WB) commenced assessing the first stage of the long-term program on ecologic clean-up of Azerbaijan's Absheron Peninsula, for which the bank is prepared to allocate $152mln credit, the WB Baku representation said. The WB mission led by the head of ecologic projects, Anita Dasgupta is on visit to Baku to make assessment. The mission will complete assessment work by 15 March.
The talks are expected to take place by the end of April and beginning of May. The credit will be provided on conditions of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
The project has been divided into four components which cover various State bodies - State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.
The first component envisages acquiring clean-up equipment for SOCAR. In addition, technical assistance is expected to be rendered to increase ecologic practice of SOCAR.
According to the second component, the Emergency Situations Ministry will be rendered assistance in clean-up of the territories of former iodine production plants in Ramani and Surakhani from radiocarbon coal. During the Soviet period, these plants produced iodine by filtering underground water from oil wells of granule of coal. Presently, these granules are collected and radiocarbon water emerged on filters. WB will allocate funds for utilization of the plants. The second assistance to the Ministry envisages physical purification from oil pollutions near the territories of the Airport on 1,000 hectare.
The domestic wastes control system is planned to be created through the line of Economic Development Ministry, and improvement of ecological norms, standards, as well as certification of the system through the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry.
It is expected that within the framework of the program the State will allocate finances at the expense of the Budget. Furthermore, the funds received from oil obtained from cleaned areas may also be directed to cover further expenditures.
According to preliminary values, from 10,000 to 30,000 hectares of land is polluted in Azerbaijan. The difference of Azerbaijan from other countries, which have experienced purification of lands, is huge concentration of oil pollutions is observed on small area. Within the framework of PSA the leading ecological standards are observed which prevent pollution of areas. There is need hundred of millions USD for purification of wastes collected for centuries, WB experts consider.
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