Pressemelding

Dato: 24.08.01

Optimistic Environment Ministers of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council will increase funding

The Nordic Environment Ministers will increase the amount of capital in the Nordic Environmental Finance Corporation (NEFCO), to secure the funding of additional projects in the Barents Region. The Russians will, on their part, continue to work for reduction of financial and legal barriers in the field of environmental co-operation.

-The Barents environmental co-operation is a successful example of regional interaction, with projects both on local and regional levels. We want to develop this work further, says Norway’s environment minister Siri Bjerke at the closing of the Ministerial Meeting for the Barents Region, held in Kirkenes and Murmansk 20 – 22 August 2001.

Biological diversity, climate change and energy, cleaner production and Local Agenda 21 are fields for ongoing promising projects. Environment Minister Siri Bjerke defines the regional and local co-operation across the borders as successful. The activities are managed by county municipalities, municipalities, environmental NGOs and indigenous groups in the region.

At the meeting, the Nordic environment ministers underlined the importance of the modernisation by new cleaning technology at the Pechenga Nikel Mining and Smelting Combine. After many years of negotiations the implementation of this project is scheduled to start during this autumn. The modernisation project is scheduled to be finished at the end of 2006. At that time the emissions of sulphur dioxide and heavy metals will be reduced by 90 % compared to todays emissions. The current emissions from the plant are

150 000 tonnes per year, which equals about five times the Norwegian emissions of sulphur dioxide.

Contact
Inger Johanne Wiese, tel.: +47 22 24 60 26

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