UNIDO took part in the extended meeting of JSC «Russian Railways» on environmental issues

October 30, 2017

On October 17, 2017, the UNIDO/GEF project „Environmentally sound management and final disposal of PCBs at the Russian Railroad network and other PCBs owners“ consultants took part in the extended meeting of JSC «Russian Railways» on environmental issues on the basis of the Scientific Production Center for Environmental Protection — a branch of JSC «Russian Railways» under the supervision of Valentin Gapanovich, Senior Adviser to the President of JSC «Russian Railways» on environmental issues. The meeting was also attended by the leadership of the Northern Railway, the head of the Federal Service for Supervision in the field of nature management in the Yaroslavl region Shalaev V.

The meeting covered the operations of the hazardous waste disposal facility, officially opened on July 28, 2015, in the presence of the Managing Director of UNIDO, Mr. Philippe Soltes. The UNIDO/GEF project implementation was also highlighted.

Regarding the UNIDO/GEF project issues of the supply of a mobile PCB-contaminated transformer oil purification plant, the prospects of using a plasma hazardous waste neutralization plant (purchased by UNIDO), as well as the implementation of the joint UNIDO-RZD-NEFCO project for cleaning Northern and Arctic territories of the Russian Federation from PCB-containing wastes were covered. Senior Advisor to the President of JSC «Russian Railways» Gapanovich Valentin confirmed the interest of the company in the successful implementation of the Project. The priority actions that Russian Railways and UNIDO should take to implement the project road map and the approved National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on POPs were discussed during the meeting.

Participants visited the complex for the thermal neutralization of hazardous wastes, currently carrying out the neutralization of contaminated oil, medical and biological waste.