The oil giant’s Communication Manager, Dan Pazara, told Business Standard that the company has asked the court to overturn the Environment Agency’s decision pending judges make a ruling in the case, as Petrom has already appealed the Arpechim operations ban. However, Pazara explained that this will not affect ongoing investments for environmental safety which Petrom is currently making. Petrom is controlled by Austrian group OMV.
Two weeks ago, Arpechim was requested to stop its operations, following a decision by environment officials that the refinery does not apply two measures stipulated in the environment license, namely the modernization of gasoline tanks with fixed and floating lids and the closing of its waste dumps for acrylonitrile and eco-mud. Arpechim is one of Romania’s major refineries. ‘‘We hope that by the end of July, the Arpechim refinery will comply with regional environment agency regulations,’‘ Pazara said. The Pitesti Environment Agency was upset by yesterday’s court ruling and announced it would appeal this within five days, according to its General Manager, Marius Stanca.
Company officials and environmental authorities are presently discussing steps the refinery must take to comply with the legislation in the field.
Stanca said OMV representatives have committed to submit within three weeks applications needed to obtain authorization for the closure of its waste dumps, and they must notify the agency today about the closure of three tanks. OMV representatives also promised to modernize a further two tanks by August 1. If Arpechim respects these deadlines, the Pitesti Environment agency will lift the suspension of the refinery’s environment license, according to Stanca.
