Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 12 / Trend E.Ismayilov /
Area of the polluted land in the Absheron Peninsula is estimated at 10,000 hectares, Vice-President of SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) on Environmental Issues, Mukhtar Babayev said on Oct. 12.
These are not only oil-polluted land, but also the areas subject to general pollution. Besides SOCAR's areas, there are municipal lands on which other companies operate, Babayev added.
According to Babayev, currently SOCAR holds work on clearing land on the fields of Bibi Heybat, Balakhani and Salyan. In 2008, the company has cleared and re-cultivated about 200 hectares of the polluted land, most of which fell to the field Bibi Heybat and Balakhani.
At present, Azerbaijan holds clearing of land by the mechanical and biological cleaning. But because of the lack of machines for mechanical cleaning, SOCAR prefers biological cleaning.
SOCAR also works on clearing areas of the fields (mostly off-shore) from the outdated and not needed metal structures, trestles and platforms. The company disassembles platforms and overpasses first of all, which are not used or the use of which are dangerous. At present, the company holds work on it at the oil and gas sectors "Gum Adası" and "Oil Rocks". SOCAR also did much work on the old Bibi Heybat fields.
SOCAR also periodically holds measurement to determine the radiation background in the fields, developed independently. According to Babayev, there is no the radiation threat towards the company's workers and people living near industries.
"Under the assessments, the radiation background is normal in the fields, where our staff works. The company holds the periodic evaluation of radiation on the areas nearby of which located settlements and there is no threat to the health of people living there," Babayev added.
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