OREANDA-NEWS. January 23, 2008. This year trading companies and companies of the food and processing industries of the Gomel oblast, which use ammonia in their refrigerating units, intend to completely desist from ammonia in favour of freon.

As BelTA learnt from Igor Korzhov, a deputy chief of the oblast emergencies department, his department continues the work on converting economic entities using aggressive chemical agents to operate on other substances. The work is planned to be finished in 2008. At present ten companies of the region have been taking measures to convert their production facilities to operate on safe chemicals and to equip them with up-to-date control and leak detection systems.

According to Igor Korzhov, the solution of this problem will help considerably enhance safety at these companies and minimize consequences of emergencies for the personnel and environment.