Press Releases
[Press release] Defence of Sakhalin against big oil gains momentum, protestors urge EBRD to reject financing for reckless Sakhalin II project
 Sakhalin Governor took part in the protest |
Aniva Bay, Sakhalin Island, Russia -- Today, from 10 am local time, more than 300 local Sakhalin people took part in a peaceful protest in front of the main entrance to the massive Sakhalin II LNG plant construction site. The protesters were demonstrating against the widespread damage which Sakhalin Energy Investment Company (SEIC), a consortium lead by Shell, is inflicting on Sakhalin's environment, social infrastructure and fishing economy as it develops the USD 20 billion Sakhalin II oil and gas project.
The protestors, including fishermen, dacha community members, local families and concerned citizens, were joined by Sakhalin Regional Governor Ivan Malakhov, who arrived on the picket line and promised to local people that he and the regional government share their concerns and support their demands. This was the first time that the regional Governor has publicly backed public concerns about the Sakhalin II mega project.
In a speech to the protesters, Governor Malakhov said that as the governor and as a member of the Sakhalin II Supervisory Board he will personally demand a recalculation of damage to fish stocks caused by Sakhalin II implementation and ask local environmental group Sakhalin Environment Watch to submit concrete proposals regarding the methodology and the next steps required for any recalculation. He also pledged that he will insist on alterations to the LNG plant's sanitary protection zone from 1 km to 3.5 km and noted that he will negotiate regarding the future of an old ammunition depot which neighbours the LNG plant as the current situation is abnormal.
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Dmitry Lisitsyn, chairman of Sakhalin Environment Watch, said: "The citizens and groups who initiated today's protest view the Governor's step as the start of a partnership between power and the people to make real positive changes to the Sakhalin II project. Full compensation for environmental damage is needed as a lot of the economically important species which have got in the way of Sakhalin II are not coming back."
Two petitions - one to the Russian government, the Sakhalin Governor and SEIC CEO Ian Craig and a second one to the Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) - were presented during the protest. The people gathered approved both petitions and the collecting of signatures has started.
The first petition demands a recalculation of damage to fish stocks caused by the LNG plant construction. The currently existing damage assessment, a forecast which was calculated before construction and which was approved by the Russian authorities, is now meaningless owing to the excessive damage caused by SEIC's construction work. Further demands called for the establishment of a sanitary protection zone extending to 3.5 km instead of the current 1 km zone, which fails to protect people and the dacha community from the LNG plant's impacts, as well as the removal of an old military ammunition depot which threatens the LNG plant with explosions.
The second petition demands that the EBRD should not finance the Sakhalin II project. In December the EBRD launched a 120 day public consultation period for Sakhalin II (Phase 2), declaring that it is "fit for the purpose of consultation" while at the same time admitting that its own lending standards are being breached by SEIC.
Elena Lopukhina, leader of the local citizens' group "Knowledge is Strength", said: "We have had enough of the constant deceptions coming from Sakhalin Energy. Its unreliability as a social partner should be a warning to the EBRD who should not back this kind of corporate irresponsibility with a multi-million dollar loan from the public purse."
Today's protest was organised by local NGOs Sakhalin Environment Watch, Green Patrol and the informal Korsakov citizens' group "Knowledge is Strength".
Banners posted next to the main entrance of the LNG construction site read: "Say NO to EBRD financing!", "EBRD hands off Sakhalin II", "Demanding re-calculation of environmental damage!", "Fish are the main wealth of Sakhalin!", "Demanding transparency for public control!", "Bombs near LNG. We are afraid!", "Save the Mereya river mouth for license fishing!"
The picket was permitted by the mayor of Korsakov Gennady Zlivko, as per Russian legislation, but the Korsakov state prosecutor attempted to prohibit the picket and to prevent citizens from expressing their opinion. Mayor Zlivko defended his electors and refused to cancel his decree, permitting the picket. At the beginning of the protest the police tried to prevent people assembling and posting banners but then retreated.
For more information, contact:
Dmitry Lisitsyn
Email: sakhalinwatch at yandex.ru
Tel: +7 4242 747519
Mobile: +7
914 757 0076
www.sakhalin.environment.ru
Petr Hlobil
CEE Bankwatch Network
Tel: +420 603 154 349
Mary Taylor (UK)
Friends of the Earth
Tel: +44
(0)1223 709942
Mobile: +44 (0)7766 71 1952
You can download full size pictures of January 28 protest outside Sakhalin II LNG plant (thumbnails on the right).
Please acknowledge source: Sakhalin Environmental Watch
CEE Bankwatch Network gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.