Following the accident in product pipeline Polotsk – Ventspils that ocurred in December 2010 in Rokiskis District, approximately 3 thousand cubic meters of pollutants were collected. But according to the experts a thawed snow can constitute half of the amount.
"The major part of the spilt diesel fuel is already collected and transported to ORLEN Lietuva refinery for reprocessing. Only a small amount is left in the land-reclamation ditch,“ – said Linas Bauzys, Director of Pipelines and Offshore Terminals.
According to the newest information, about 3 thousand cubic meters of pollutant and water mixture has been collected so far. Experts of ORLEN Lietuva estimate that thawed snow can constitute the greater half of the amount. „First of all we are determining density of the collected pollutants since volumetric calculations for water and diesel fuel are different,“ – referred L. Bauzys.
"Although this was one of the biggest accidents of the last year, specialists of ORLEN Lietuva pollutant dispersion prevention works performed ideally,“ – stated Gediminas Markauskas, Head of Accident Prevention and Management Department of the State Environmental Inspectorate. He also noted that diesel fuel did not get into the open water bodies and the potential pollution does not exceed ecological norms. Ecologists are considering cancelation of the extreme situation after one week. According to G. Markauskas, company ORLEN Lietuva managed to solve all logistics problems that occured immediately after the accident by mobilizing the required number of people and machinery.
In response to the accident that occurred on 28 of December the immense forces were gathered immediatelly – about 70 people, specialists of oil refining company ORLEN Lietuva and 11 contracting companies, were working in three shifts.
Diesel fuel spilled in the area exceeding 20 ares was confined by barriers, thus preventing it from getting into Vyzuona River. Currently, preventive actions against the spring thaw are in progress.
Diesel fuel supply from Belarus to Latvia via product pipeline was restored on 31 of December after the replacement of the damaged section of the pipe. The causes of the accident that happened in Bryzgiai Village (Rokiškis District) and the resulting losses are being investigated and assessed by a special commission formed by ORLEN Lietuva consisting of the specialists of pipelines, physical security, ecology, technical analysis, mechanics and other.