The gem of Nizhnekamsk: employees of TAIF-NK help to clear the shore of Karakul Lake

Green Russia is marching up the country

The all-Russian ecological movement Green Russia appeared 4 years ago. It is designed to preserve the environment, to minimize the negative impact on the environment of industrial enterprises. Vladimir Putin supported the large-scale eco-project. At the economic forum in St. Petersburg, the president of Russia urged entrepreneurs to pay attention to environmental problems and expand their corporate and social responsibility in this area.

This year, the large-scale all-Russian environmental campaign, which has become a tradition, us taking place in all cities of Russia from 6 to 29 September. Nizhnekamsk is no exception. On 20 September, the event called Clean Shore, designed to preserve the unique water bodies, was held on the shore of Karakul Lake on the initiative of environmentalists, the executive committee of the city, volunteers.

Environmental safety issues in Nizhnekamsk have always been at the forefront. The city authorities are concerned not only about the air quality but also the quality of water in reservoirs and rivers. A year ago, the executive committee of the city asked for help from scientists of the Kazan Federal University, so that the best minds of the republic conducted a scientific study of Karakul Lake, stretching from the village of Krasny Klyuch to the village of Ilyinka. This lake has been chosen for a reason — fish die there every winter underneath the ice.

“We began to find out the reasons for this situation. This cannot be done without a comprehensive analysis. We had assumptions why this was happening but accuracy was needed. It was necessary to develop measures that would allow to rehabilitate this lake,” Deputy Head of the Executive Committee of the Nizhnekamsk municipal district of the Republic of Tatarstan for economic and project management Lenar Akhmetov explained to the correspondent of Realnoe Vremya.

The largest lake in Tatarstan

For two seasons, biologists were conducting a comprehensive monitoring of the reservoir. They have studied the water quality, composition of bottom sediments, morphology, the ichthyofauna of the plants. By the way, it is the largest reservoir of Tatarstan. Its area is more than 200 hectares. Besides, endangered species of plants have been found there.

“This lake is the gem of Nizhnekamsk. During the research, we have found two red list species. What is more, their location in this area was not documented in the Red List. It's salvinia and nuphar. Only three species of fish have been found, it is just connected with fish kill phenomena,” says Oleg Nikitin, the Associate Professor of Applied Ecology of the Kazan Federal University.

According to scientists, Karakul Lake is polluted, and already today it is necessary to improve its environmental situation. “Previously, the lake was connected to the Kama River, the water from the river went here, now there is no such feed. This is one of the reasons why the environment has deteriorated there. Besides, on the shore of the lake, there are garden and country estates. This also has had an impact on water quality. In addition, it is necessary to take into account surface runoff and poorly equipped banyas,” said Nadezhda Stepanova, the head of the Department of Applied Ecology of the Kazan Federal University.

Clean Shore campaign

The recommendations developed by scientists have been adopted, the executive committee of the city said. Water will periodically be supplied from Kama River to the lake, the lake will be stocked with fish, as soon as funds are found the bottom will be cleaned from silt deposits.

However, it is necessary to maintain a favourable environmental situation not only in the water reservoir but also on the shore. In the framework of the ecological campaign Clean Shore, concerned residents, environmentalists, employees of large industrial enterprises put things in order on the shoreline of Karakul Lake. According to the organizers, more than 5 tonnes of waste were removed from there last year alone.

“It is necessary to inform the population about the catastrophic volumes of garbage that we take out to the landfill. This action takes place in spring and summer, it was initiated by the ministry of ecology and natural resources of the Republic of Tatarstan. Imagine how many tonnes of garbage we take out from this coast. All because those services do not work that must enlighten people on the working places,” Guzel Abdullina, the head of the non-profit organization Eco World, noted with regret.

TAIF-NK for the safety of unique water bodies

Employees of TAIF-NK oil refinery have made their contribution to improving the environmental situation of the unique Karakul Lake in Tatarstan. The workers, armed with gloves and garbage bags, took an active part in the large-scale environmental campaign Clean Shore. Thanks to their efforts and reverent attitude to nature, dozens of bags of garbage were taken to the landfill.

“There is a lot of garbage. There are glass and plastic bottles, papers, empty cigarette packs. It's a shame that all this is left by vacationers. If each of us clean up after themselves, then there will not be such a mess,” Kristina Naumova, an employee of TAIF-NK PSC, shared her impressions.

The organizers of the event expressed their gratitude to the company's employees.

“TAIF-NK employees came in large numbers. We are pleased to see that employees of industrial enterprises take part in the environmental campaign, realizing the load that production has on the environment. They make their personal contribution to the cleaning of the territory in Nizhnekamsk region,” said Lenar Akhmetov, the deputy head of the executive committee of Nizhnekamsk municipal district for economic and project management.

It should be noted that the campaign Clean Shore has been held on Karakul Lake for the second time. Last year, the staff of TAIF-NK also did not stand aside and helped to clean the shore of the reservoir from the accumulated household garbage.

Snow, garbage and lawn — TAIF-NK is a permanent member of eco campaigns

In general, TAIF-NK employees regularly join the large-scale sanitary cleaning of the city. For example, employees of the company always take part in the spring city voluntary Saturday work day when they put in order one of the Nizhnekamsk streets assigned to the enterprise. The company also annually joins the implementation of activities within the framework of the ecological two-month period campaign and the large-scale republican campaign #ecoVesna. In 2017, employees of TAIF-NK together with pupils of the kindergarten No. 28 hung up about 50 birdhouses on trees in the territory of the preschool institution.

Besides, TAIF-NK has repeatedly become the winner of the contest ‘100 Best Organizations in Russia. Ecology and Environmental Management’. Director General of TAIF-NK PSC Rushan Shamgunov has been awarded the honorary badge The Ecologist of the Year 2016 for achievements in the field of environmental management

A prerequisite for successful business development

In general, TAIF-NK PSC considers its activities in the field of environmental safety and environmental protection as one of the prerequisites for successful business development. In its daily work, the company is guided by the principle chosen throughout the civilized world — not to cause damage to the environment, constantly upgrading existing and expanding the construction of new facilities to reduce environmental risks.

As part of Year of Ecology announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, an agreement was signed between the ministry of natural resources and ecology of the Russian Federation, the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources, the government of the Republic of Tatarstan and TAIF-NK, under which the company has undertook and fulfilled all obligations to implement four environmental measures totalling more than 3,8 billion rubles. Most part of them — 3,7 billion rubles — was directed to the commissioning of local biological treatment facilities (BOS) of the refinery. The grand launch ceremony of the biological treatment place took place on 8 June 2017 with the participation of Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov.

Today, the shop works steadily, cleaning all production and storm sewage water. The technology of final purification using activated sludge in combination with mechanical filtration in the membrane bioreactor is unique for Russian oil refining. It allows to return 100% of treated wastewater to production and, at the same time, to remove 99,99% of oil products and pollutants.

Thanks to this, the company has created the “closed water cycle”, in which all industrial waste water is treated and returned to production. The launch of such modern and highly efficient environmental facility has allowed the company to reduce the external recharge of water circulation systems with fresh river clarified water fivefold!

The Republic of Tatarstan today is a powerful, dynamically developing region, the initiator of many progressive initiatives in the country. Refining industry makes a significant contribution to the welfare of the residents, achievement of socio-economic development and reducing the negative environmental impact of the Nizhnekamsk industrial hub. All activities of TAIF-NK PSC — one of the leading specialized enterprises of the region — are aimed at improving the processes that directly contributes to the implementation of programmes for the development of the petrochemical complex of the country and the solution of problems on the formation of the foundations of national competitiveness.