Energy giant EVRAZ paid 3.5 million rubles to clean up the sky over Krasnoyarsk.
Rewritten Article:
A court in Krasnoyarsk has ordered Kransoyarskiy Electrovagonoremontnyi Zavod (KEZ) to pay 3.5 million rubles as environmental compensation. This industrial plant is known for its 120-meter chimney, which is a familiar sight to all Krasnoyarsk residents.
For years, the dark smoke billowing from the chimney has been troubling local residents. Reporting on this issue prompted joint investigations by the prosecutor's office and the regional environmental ministry.
The probe found that KEZ overstated the acceptable emission limits during inventory, failed to establish limits for vanadium, and neglected to test the gas purification equipment’s functioning.
Analysis of the samples showed that at normal plant operation, emissions surpassed the allowable limits by 1.2 times for particulate matter and 1.4 times for nitrogen dioxide during the Period of Increased Environmental Monitoring (NMMU).
The prosecutor's office filed a lawsuit seeking an order for KEZ to rectify the violations and recompense the ecological damage. The court granted the petition, ruling KEZ to pay 3.5 million rubles.
"Currently, the organization has conducted a new inventory of emissions and their sources, and has adjusted the gas purification systems' operation," the prosecutor's office commented.
It's worth reminding that, due to changes in the city's heating system, KEZ's emissions should drastically reduce by a third starting from the new heating season. The residential area of železnodorožniy rail district, which was previously heated by KEZ's boiler plant, will switch to TEC-2. Furthermore, KEZ plans an environmental upgrade of their boiler plant by 2026.
Image source: DELA, minéco, procurator’s office
Additional Insights:
- Environmental Assessments: To rectify ecological damage, facilities often undergo rigorous environmental assessments to understand the extent and sources of pollution.
- Modernization and Compliance: Upon identifying pollution sources, facilities develop modernization plans that encompass upgrading equipment, implementing new technologies, and aligning operations to meet environmental standards.
- Community Engagement: Engaging with local communities, addressing concerns, and ensuring transparency play important roles in environmental remediation efforts.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Regular monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of implemented measures are crucial to ensure the facility remains committed to its environmental responsibilities.
- Despite the environmental compensation imposed, Kransoyarskiy Electrovagonoremontnyi Zavod (KEZ) has initiated a new environmental assessment to understand the sources and extent of pollution, with plans to modernize and upgrade equipment to align with environmental standards, as part of their commitment to rectify ecological damage.
- This environmental upgrade may boost the industry's contribution to environmental science, as KEZ plans to modernize their boiler plant by 2026, focusing on energy efficiency and reducing emissions, which could potentially contribute to the finance sector's goal of green investments in the energy sector.
- The news of KEZ's environmental upgrade and efforts towards pollution reduction comes at a critical time, as the city's heating system changes, which will drastically reduce KEZ's emissions by a third starting from the new heating season, benefiting the environment and the health of Krasnoyarsk's residents, thus emphasizing the importance of industry-environment collaboration in addressing climate-change concerns.
