Artikel
Oil company Rosneft criticised for environmental impacts affecting indigenous people in Sakhalin and Kamchatka – company says it respects the environment [Russia]
[Title translation and summary translation of the original Russian language article provided by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]
The Russian government has elaborated a new environmental policy. It plans to provide environmentally “clean” companies with benefits and increase penalty fines for violations of environmental regulations. However, Russian business does not see the environment as a high priority. Environmentalists have particularly criticised the oil firm Rosneft for pollution, especially on Sakhalin island. Local fishermen and indigenous people suffered from pollution of a huge part of Nyisky golf following a spill of oil products into the river Tom. Environmentalists also believe that the planned oil extraction on Kamchatka would seriously endanger fish species and deprive the local population of their living resources and work. In the case of oil spill in this region, it would not be possible to clean up the area because of the environmental conditions: the sea is covered with ice nearly 7 months a year and there are seismic activities in the region. Rosneft states that it gives full attention to environment.