Representatives of the company “Zarubezhneft” , which is the majority owner of the oil industry in the RS, announced yesterday in Banja Luka the continuation of oil exploration in the area of this BiH entity, and the opening of two wells this year, as well as investing in order to reach ecological standards in the oil refinery in Bosanski Brod.
On this issue, the General Director of “Zarubezhneft” Sergej Kudrjašov spoke with the President of the RS Milorad Dodik, who said that there are no objections from Slavonski Brod due to air pollution in that city as a result of ship refineries.
“The refinery in Brod works on environmental permits that it received from the RS government and this goes beyond the practice that is present in Croatia itself’’, said Dodik in a statement to journalists in Banja Luka.
He claims that the comments from Slavonski Brod “could often be recognized as politicization”, but adds that discussions would continue and the realization of ecological responsibility of the oil refinery in Bosanski Brod.
The General Director of “Zarubezhneft” Sergej Kudrjašov confirmed that they have to take all the steps in the area of environmentally friendly operations in the refinery and said that the company is ready for this, as well as to continue to monitor the quality of the air through monitoring stations.
“The realization of the project “Južni tok“ will allow us to move on to gas, and it will not only increase environmental issues, but also the efficiency of the work of the refinery’’, said Kudrjašov.
The General Director of “Zarubezhneft” did not want to speak on the results of the financial operations of the refinery, and said that it was a ‘commercial secret’.
However, he added that last year was not “the best” when it comes to issues refinery.
Dodik replied to this question and said that due to investments in the reconstruction of the refinery, it is not possible to achieve big business results.
The entity President supported the activities of “Zarubezhneft” in the RS, which lasts from 2007. The Ambassador of Russia to BiH Aleksandar Bocan Harčenko, who participated in the meeting, said that the projects have the support of his government.
Harčenko also said that projects in this area are the “pillar” of cooperation between the RS and Russia and are of mutual interest.