Bryza praises Azerbaijan’s work in protecting Caspian ecology
By Trend
Azerbaijan has done a great job in cleaning the Caspian Sea from
oil, Matthew Bryza, former US assistant secretary for South
Caucasus and former US ambassador to Azerbaijan, told Trend on
November 21.
Bryza, the CEO oif Lamor Turkey, who was also one of the moderators
in the 4th Practical Conference and Mini Exhibition - Offshore and
Onshore Oil Spills: Industrial Safety in Oil and Gas, in Baku, said
that with lower oil prices, all companies, public or private
companies are trying to cut back the money they spend for ecology
and for protecting the environment.
“But I think that they have to begin to spend again more quickly,
because oil companies are now producing even more oil to make
revenue when the price is low,” he said.
Bryza pointed out that Azerbaijan has done a great job working
through SOCAR, through entire government, through Ministry of
Emergency Situations and together with BP to put in place all the
necessary capabilities to ensure that the sea gets cleaned from
hydrocarbon, from oil damage.
“With the decrease in oil prices, it is difficult sometimes to find
necessary funding to protect the environment and clean up the oil
that has been spilled in sea and on the land, in the maximum way,”
he said.
But Azerbaijan has got the training of personnel and regulations in
place in this sphere, said Bryza, adding that the cooperation
between BP, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and other
Azerbaijani entities is working very well.
The 4th Practical Conference and Mini Exhibition - Offshore and
Onshore Oil Spills: Industrial Safety in Oil and Gas kicked off in
Baku Nov.21. The event focuses on readiness of the Caspian Sea
littoral states to the ecological challenges, use of new
technologies for eliminating the consequences of oil spill, as well
as monitoring and prevention of spills, eliminating the pollution
and other consequences.
The conference will continue on November 22.
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