On November 4-5 the International Conference “Global View on Environmental Issues in the Oil Industry” was held at the Fairmont Baku with the support of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and IDEA (International Dialogue for Environmental Action). Organizational support for the conference was provided by Iteca Caspian LLC and Practical Solutions Group. 

The two-day conference was attended by 250 delegates, including representatives of government agencies representing different countries, global oil and gas companies, as well as scientists and leading experts in the field of ecology. 

The video-clip dedicated to large-scale work that SOCAR has recently carried out in the field of ecology had been displayed before the beginning of the conference. 

The conference aims to give a comprehensive analysis of the current environmental situation for the sustainable development of the region, to share experience in the usage of new methods and techniques for the study of various environmental issues, to develop environmental protection proposals and to forecast the dynamics of progress in the field of environmental protection in the forthcoming decades. 

A welcoming letter addressed to the conference delegates by the founder of IDEA (International Dialogue for Environmental Action) Leyla Aliyeva was read during the session. “IDEA is aspiring to set an international dialogue in order to ensure environmental protection. It finds an approach and propaganda of “green thinking” aimed at solution of ecological problems to be a main principle of its operation”, the letter noted. 

Addressing a conference SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev spoke about underway environmental projects and forthcoming work. He said that such activities would play a significant role in solution of ecological problems caused by the oil-gas industry. SOCAR President emphasized that Ilham Aliyev is successfully continuing implementation of a focused policy set by All-National Leader Heydar Aliyev and noted that environmental protection is one of the priority issues for Azerbaijan. Speaking about implementation of a number of environmental projects in the cities of Baku and Sumgayit, R.Abdullayev said that the similar activities also play an important role in ecological education of people. 

President of SOCAR informed that the lack of experience in oil production caused big environmental damage in Azerbaijan in early years. Territories occupying 1,300 hectares and polluted with oil products at field sections have been recultivated and developed. About 600,000 of different types of trees and ornamental shrubs have been planted at restored lands. The project on creation of the eco-park has been realized in order to plant greenery on lands to be developed in future and form forest belts. Alongside, advanced equipment will be installed at oil-gas enterprises to be established in the area of Garadagh district. Old enterprises are to be closed in Baku and Sumgayit. 

Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Huseyngulu Bagirov said that great work on environment protection has been carried out in Azerbaijan over the past 10 years. The minister said that 8 national parks were created in Azerbaijan over the past 10 years. The area of protected lands has been increased from 400,000 hectares up to 1 mln. Millions of trees have been planted. The number of olive gardens set in Azerbaijan over the past 3 years has been rapidly increased. 

The minister also added that the state attaches particular importance to the environment protection in Azerbaijan and announcement of 2010 as the “Year of Ecology” in Azerbaijan by President Ilham Aliyev was a clear example of that. 

The Member of the House of Lords in the parliament of Great Britain and the Chairman of the Global Counsel organization Peter Mandelson noted that Azerbaijan is playing an important role in ensuring energy security of Europe. Peter Mandelson said that Azerbaijan’s development is drawing the biggest attention among the former soviet republics. He also noted the role of the successful partnership in those achievements and set the cooperation between SOCAR and BP as an example. 

Participants discussed the application of achievements in the latest technologies for environmental protection in the oil industry. The following topics were discussed during the international conference:  the development of the oil and gas industry and atmosphere emissions, the effect of offshore oil and gas operations on water basins, the rehabilitation and management of soil polluted by oil and oil products, modern approaches to the management of wastes in the oil industry, and alternative energy and energy efficiency in oil&gas operations. Apart from this, the conference participants were informed about the major environmental projects implemented by SOCAR in recent years, including gas flaring reduction; the creation of a new landfill site (Waste Management Centre); projects on awareness of youth on ecological issues; and the establishment of close collaboration with IDEA in this field.