(eurochem) -- EuroChem, one of the world's top ten agrochemical companies, announced today that the Northwestern Federal District Centre of Laboratory Analysis and Technical Metrology has completed the testing of effluent samples taken at its Phosphorit phosphate plant in Northwest Russia. The results and conclusions of the testing confirm Phosphorit's internal laboratory results and effectively rule out any direct link between the plant's activity and the increases in the phosphorous levels of the Luga River and Baltic Sea.
The tests were performed following the publication of Finnish news reports in January reporting on the possible contamination of the Baltic Sea by industrial wastewater in which EuroChem's Phosphorit plant was mentioned as a potential source of phosphorous contamination. On January 25, in accordance with its environmental accountability policy, EuroChem welcomed delegations of Finnish and Russian environmental organizations, community leaders, as well as Saint Petersburg and Helsinki media outlets at its Phosphorit plant to openly conduct the sampling and testing of surface runoffs.
The conclusions of these tests highlighted the absence of any link between the activity of the Phosphorit facility and the reported increases in phosphorous concentration in the Luga River and Baltic Sea. Representatives of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) in Russia concurred with these findings.
To push the dialogue further, EuroChem has invited representatives of Finnish and Russian environmental agencies and regulatory bodies to the Phosphorit plant on February 7 to develop a program to evaluate and, if necessary, address the region's environmental situation.
Since acquiring the Phosphorit facility in 2002, EuroChem has proceeded with investments of USD 43 million in environmental protection measures in the area. These investments significantly improved the region's environmental indicators with a recorded threefold decline in atmospheric emissions and a reduction in effluent volumes by a factor of 7.5. EuroChem is currently implementing its strategic environmental protection program which runs through 2015 and encompasses the overhaul of the wastewater treatment facility and further measures to reduce industrial discharges to the Luga River Basin.
EuroChem is a top ten agrochemical company globally by nutrient capacity, producing primarily nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, as well as certain organic synthesis products and iron ore.
MRC