In March, unidentified persons tapped to the petroleum transportation pipeline near Juodupė village, Rokiškis District, and later, due to failure of the illegal hose, diesel fuel transported by the pipeline to Latvia leaked into the environment. AB Mažeikių Nafta operates and services the pipeline section on the Lithuanian territory.

The emergency response team of AB Mažeikių Nafta, the officers of the Fire Fighting and Rescue Department, the Civil Safety specialists, and the employees of Juodupė Neighborhood took necessary actions for combating the effects of the incident.

Some time later, in May, an attempt of illegal tapping to the product pipeline Ilukste-Ventspils was reported in Biržai District. The illegal tapping took place on the bottom of the Apaščia River, near Totoriai village.

After arrival on the incident location, the emergency response team of AB Mažeikių Nafta immediately stopped the diesel flow from the pipeline, deployed seven booms, which prevented the pollution from spreading down the river towards the village. As part of the spill combat activities, the specialists collected and disposed of the polluted water.

In May and June, the tests of water in the Šaltoji Creek, Rokiškis District, the Vyžuona and Nemunėlis Rivers, Biržai District, were performed to identify the pollution level.  The test results showed that the water quality is within the set limits. “The organization of the combat activities was good. Currently water quality near Juodupė settlement is within the established limits,” – said Angelė Plančiūnaitė, Deputy Director of Panevėžys Regional Environmental Protection Department.

The pollution combat action plan, developed by AB Mažeikių Nafta, provides for activities which will take place until October. Along with the soil cleanup, the booms, which prevented the water polluted with diesel fuel from further spreading, will be gradually removed.