Priazovneft conducts illegal construction at Azov coast of Russia

by Andrey Rudomakha and Suren Gazaryan

Since summer of 2006, JSC Oil company Priazovneft (whose shares belong to Rosneft and to LUKoil, in 42,5 % each, and 15 % to Krasnodar Territory Administration), conducts illegal construction of a dam-road on Verbyanaya Spit, located in Kuban Delta in Temryuk District (Krasnodar Territory, Russia). A dam-road is laid to the future oil wells of Priazovneft.
The construction of the first one, (Novaya-1), has been already begun in northern part of Verbyanaya Spit, less than in hundred meters from the Azov Sea. By means of this road about 10 km long Priazovneft is going to provide construction and operation of oil wells on the structure Novaya and also to transport extracted crude.

The area of construction of the road is part of wetland of the international importance "The Group of Limans between the rivers Kuban & Protoka" protected by the Ramsar Convention.
Verbyanaya Spit, stretching along the Azov Sea, is one of the most valuable natural areas ofthis wetland. Together with the adjacent sites of Liman-Plavni zone and the sea aquatic area, it has major importance for the waterfowl. Some 25 species of birds from the Red Book of Russia are registered here. At the same time the species variety and the number of birds is increased hundreds of times more during migrations in spring and in autumn.

Many species of rare and protected plants grow on the spit. Also the wildlife habitual area of protected reptiles and mammals is situated here. The shallow sea aquatic area adjusting to Verbyanaya Spit is a reservoir of the highest fish-husbandry category and plays an important role for fattening and growth of many species of young fish.
As a result of the expanded road construction, the silent and quiet Verbyanaya Spit has turned into a building site with the constant flow of heavy haulers. Bulldozers and other heavy engineering work here and its use is strictly forbidden in the protective coastland of the Sea of Azov. And this construction has coincided with the period of autumn migration of birds that have lost opportunities to use the spit for rest.

The automobiles delivering sand and stones for construction of the dam-road as well as equipment for the oil well Novaya-1, drive about the spit everywhere at their will. As a result, vegetation is completely destroyed on some sites, the spit is rolled down by wheels of automobiles along the width from the Black Sea water edge up to the Plavni zone.
To disguise the real purposes of the road construction in the limits of especially protected natural territory and to polish this nature destructive project into noble action, Priazovneft Company has named it “nature protection measures in a coastal zone of Verbyanaya Spit”. And the purpose of construction of the dam-road by the version of Priazovneft is nothing more or less than "ensuring of wetlands safety declared by the Ramsar Convention".

In opinion of the independent scientists, studying during decades the status of the Kuban Delta, the construction of the dam-road can not "rescue" neither the Plavni zone of the delta, nor the Verbyanaya Spit itself in principle. These natural areas do not require such violent ways of "rescue". Gradual displacement of the spit towards the Plavni zone is a natural process caused by sharp reduction of sand carry-over by the Kuban River and gradual bottom raising of the Sea of Azov. No dam is able to stop this process and consequently the constructed dam-road will be destroyed by the sea sooner or later.
The idea of rescue of the Ramsar site with the help of the dam-road is absurd. The Ramsar Convention attributes to wetlands, all reservoirs, including sea water areas, which depth does not exceed six meters at low tide. Thus, natural gradual moving of the Verbyanaya Spit does not threaten anything and will not cause any degradation of the wetland area in the Kuban Delta.

The construction and operation of the road, which will become a source of constant pollution and anxiety for fauna, will result in inevitable strengthening of negative influences on the ecosystems of the Ramsar site. And in case of serious failures when transporting oil on this dam-road there will be a catastrophic pollution of the coastal water area and the Plavni zone by oil.
Priazovneft Company started the construction of the dam-road defying danger and disregarding all requirements of the Law. The state ecological review was not carried out, many other concordances are lacking, the public hearings are forged. The construction of the road contradicts the requirements of the "Rules about wetlands of the Akhtaro-Grivenskaya system of Limans and of the group of Limans between Kuban and Protoka rivers" which determines their protection mode.

In this connection at the end of November, 2006, the Krasnodar Territory Office of Rosprirodnadzor (Federal Supervisory Natural Resources Management Service of Russia) has inspected legality of the dam-road construction. The representatives of environmental non governmental organizations, the Environmental Watch on North Caucasus and the Krasnodar Branch of Russian Geographical Society, have taken part in the check-up.
The check-up has confirmed rough infringements on the part of Priazovneft.

The Environmental Watch on North Caucasus has directed to control state bodies with official letters entailing the requirement to stop the illegal activities of Priazovneft Company on the construction of the road on Verbyanaya Spit. It is extremely important that the international environmental public participates in the solution of this problem as it is a matter of conservation of the extremely important natural complexes of the Caucasus ecoregion.
Its conservation has international importance. The ecological well-being of the Black Sea region is under threat also since the Priazovneft project realization can render serious negative influence on the ecosystem of the Sea of Azov.

Andrey Rudomakha is part of Environmental Watch on North Caucasus and Suren Gazaryan is part of the Krasnodar Branch of the Russian Geographical Society.