OREANDA-NEWS. December 20, 2010. SOCAR Ecology Department presented its new website (www.socar.az/eco). Opening the ceremony, Mr. Ramiz Aliyev, Head of SOCAR Ecological Projects’ Fulfillment Department, noted that the Company has launched the active phase of its ecological projects in 2006.

According to him, more than 250 ha field areas have been re-cultivated up to now under the ‘Comprehensive Activity Plan on Improvement of Ecological Situation in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2006-2010’ decreed by President Ilham Aliyev, and the major part of the cleaned-up territories falls to the share of oil and gas production departments in Absheron peninsula. Mr. Aliyev also mentioned the works carried out based on the Clean Development Mechanism Program within Kyoto Protocol. He added that SOCAR has implemented a number of important projects including the Ecological Park project within the ‘Year of Ecology’ announced in Azerbaijan in 2010. He also pointed out the adoption of Ecological Policy Instrument by SOCAR and implementation of ‘zero waste’ scheme at the newly launched facilities of the Company, based on this instrument. According to Vugar Kerimov, deputy chief Ecology Department of SOCAR, who conducted the main part of the presentation ceremony, the present website of the Ecology Department distinguishes for some innovations.

The ‘News’ section of the dynamic website periodically informs about the works carried out on environmental protection by the Department. Besides, there are separate tabs indicating structural divisions, staff, enterprises’ location and conducted works. The website also includes links showing measures taken for improvement of ecological state by SOCAR as well as related photos.

 One of the major innovations of the website is ‘Electronic Library’ with voluminous literature on environmental protection. The website users can get information on the certificates of the Department, and leave their feedbacks on ‘Guest Book’ and ‘Forum’ sections. At the end of the presentation, the Ecology Department management responded the questions of the NGO representatives and journalists.