European Commission will provide 74.3 million euros to Romania for cleaning several areas contaminated with petroleum products, in several counties. “The EU contribution will amount to 74.3 million euros from a total investment of 119.7 million euros. It will be provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under Priority Axis 2 for development integrated waste management and rehabilitation systems for historically contaminated areas, as part of the Romanian Operational Programme “Environment”. The project will be implemented by the end of 2015″, the EC statement said.

Funds will be used to rehabilitate many of sludge pits at oljchim chemical plant and the refinery units in Arpechim and Petrobrazi held by the oil, gas and electricity producer OMV Petrom, controlled by Austria’s OMV. Both Doljchim and Arpechim are now closed.

The funding from the ERDF will be used for cleaning 25 pools FOR exploration and production of hydrocarbons, located in nine counties, and for rehabilitation of two warehouses for oil products, located in Braila and Vaslui. The report does not mention who the operator of the 25 exploration pools is and neither the owner of the warehouses.

The press release mentions that by running this project, Romania will be able to meet its environmental obligations. The investment will also contribute to remedying the severe damage to the environment and combating pollution.

Source

Mediafax