Rustam Minnikhanov takes part in session of the Council of Volga Federal District

On March 28, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov took part in a session of the Council under Presidential Envoy in Volga federal district in Ufa. Issues related to implementation of state policy in the sphere of environmental protection, forestry and optimization of nature use in Volga federal district of Volga Federal District were discussed at the session held by Presidential Envoy in Volga Federal District Mikhail Babich.

Opening the session, Mikhail Babich reminded that tasks on environmental protection and efficient use of natural resources were defined by the Russian President, noting the increased loads on the environment and ecology due to the industrial and economic development of Russia and Volga region in particular.

Mikhail Babich pointed out insufficient funding of environmental campaigns in Volga district regions.

Speaking about the forest industry, he pointed out such problems, as a lack of complete information about the forest fund and outdated machinery.

Mikhail Babich also drew attention to the need to develop low-grade wood and forest waste processing.

Making a keynote report at the session, Chairman of the Working Group – President of Bashkortostan Rustam Khamitov noted a high level of air pollution in Volga Federal District, saying that the total amount of air pollutant emissions exceeded 5 million tonnes in 2013 and pointing out industrial enterprises and transport as their main resources. “Today, more effective environmental management system is required. It is necessary to equip industrial enterprises with monitoring systems. And the largest companies should introduce corporate ecological control systems,” Rustam Khanitov said.

Rustam Minnikhanov made a report on associated petroleum gas disposal at the session.

According to Rustam Minnikhanov, OAO “Tatneft” and small oil companies produce about 1 billion m³ of associated gas annually in Tatarstan.

“We think that development of gas collection and processing system at Minnibaevo gas processing plant for further use of its constituents as petrochemical feedstock is the priority area for increasing efficiency of gas usage,” Tatarstan President said.

Among other areas of efficient use of associated petroleum gas in Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov pointed out heat and power production using gas piston and gas turbine units.

Summing up, Rustam Minnikhanov pointed out the need to provide effective and high-level processing of all types of extracted hydrocarbons, taking into account that light gas feedstock makes it possible to considerably increase profitability of relevant petrochemical plants.

Russian Deputy Minister of Natural Resources – Chief of Federal Forestry Agency Vladimir Lebedev, Deputy Prosecutor General of Russia Sergey Zaitsev took part in the session.