OREANDA-NEWS. March 26, 2010. A Round Table to discuss the quality of air in the south-eastern part of the Republic of Tatarstan was held at TATNEFT on March 25. The meeting was attended by representatives of OAO TATNEFT, Department of Rosprirodnadzor for the Republic of Tatarstan, the Office of Rospotrebnadzor for the Republic of Tatarstan, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan, Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Almetyevsk Municipal District (Republic of Tatarstan), Kazan State Medical University.

Prior to the meeting the Round Table attendees visited SIKN-224 (Meauring Station) of NGDU Almetyevneft, where the collection and delivery of sour oil to OAO SZMN (transportation company) is carried out.

In the plenary part of the meeting members of the Round Table presented their reports and the experts answered questions of the reporters.

Protection of air cleanliness is one of priorities of the environmental policy of OAO TATNEFT. A system of continuous air monitoring is in operation in the region of the Company's production activities. In 2009, more than 9 thousand air samples were analyzed for main pollutants by 33 components. Implementation of environmental measures in Tatneft during the past 20 years period resulted in reducing gross emissions of air pollutants by 3.2 times. Aggregate harmful emissions into the atmosphere generated by Company's enterprises today do not exceed the established norms of maximum permissible emissions (MPE).

The Company effectively implements various technologies for atmospheric air protection. 43 hydrocarbons vapor recovery units (VRU) operate at the facilities of TATNEFT. Since introduction of the hydrocarbons vapor recovery units (1991), hydrocarbon emissions into the atmosphere dropped down 4.5 times and additional hydrocarbon raw materials were received in the amount of 1.4 million tons.

The Company has a "Program for utilization of associated petroleum gas (APG) by the facilities of OAO TATNEFT for 2009-2013". The program of activities for step-by-step commissioning of oil refining units to remove hydrogen sulfide at the facilities of OAO TATNEFT for 2009-2011 is being implemented for the purpose of reducing emissions of hydrogen sulfide

Starting 2000, about 1600 motor vehicles have been converted to use compressed natural gas, which more environmentally clean and friendly fuel. The motor vehicles are continuously checked for toxicity of exhaust gases. Fuel consumption by the vehicles of the Company decreased by 13.8% in 2009 versus 2008, as a result of organizational and technical measures aimed at optimization of transport.

OAO TATNEFT constructs the TANECO complex in Nizhnekamsk, where putting into operation the modern oil refinery will provide for production of the Euro-4 standard gasoline. Usage of this high-grade fuel will allow the vehicles in the region to significantly reduce the content of harmful and toxic substances in the exhaust emissions to the atmosphere.

TATNEFT performs a large-scale program of arranging planting strips along the in-field and public roads to improve the environment in its area of activity through increasing the absorption of greenhouse gases. Over 395 thousand plants, including more than 43 thousand seedlings of broadleaf and coniferous species in 2009, have been planted along the roads in the region as part of the landscaping program.

Environmental activities TATNEFT are dictated not only by the economic benefits and stringent environmental requirements, but primarily by the responsibility of the Company to its own staff and the society at large.