OREANDA-NEWS. September 21, 2010. TNK-BP conducted large-scale exercises in Saratov for training the personnel of OJSC Saratov Oil Refinery and Uvek Oil Depot (incorporated in OJSC Saratovnefteprodukt) in taking emergency response measures at the docks in the Uvek Bay of the Volga river, extinguishing fire on oil tankers, rendering first medical aid to personnel, rescuing people from drowning, and mitigating consequences of oil spills in the waters of Volga, reported the press-centre of TNK-BP.

One of the principal components of TNK-BP’s policy is health, safety and environmental protection. The company is paying much attention to preventing risks to the environment and people. For this reason, subsidiaries of TNK-BP regularly conduct exercises for prevention of various emergency situations.

The exercises in Saratov demonstrated operation of floating booms – one of the latest achievements in the field of environmental safety. Floating booms are characterized by high reliability and quick deployment. Ordinary inflatable sleeves hidden in the river bed inflate and float to the surface in just eight minutes and completely stop ingress of spilled oil products from the Uvek Bay into the Volga river.

The exercises were observed by Gleb Lyuksemburg, Vice President, Health, Safety and Environment, TNK-BP; Christopher Mawer, Vice President, Health, Safety, Environmental Protection and Engineering, BP Russia; heads of departments and divisions of TNK-BP; heads of the health, safety and environment departments of regional subsidiaries of the company, and others.

Gleb Lyuksemburg said after the exercises: “I think that these exercises demonstrated the high professionalism of the personnel of our subsidiaries and availability of all necessary means for prevention and mitigation of emergencies. The main objective of these exercises and the company as well is health and safety of people, environmental and industrial safety, and maintenance of business. In terms of environmental protection, the location of the Saratov Region is quite specific as the Uvek Oil Depot is in the immediate vicinity of Volga – the most beautiful river in Russia. For this reason, the oil depot has the entire complex of special emergency response equipment and regularly takes measures for minimization of environmental impacts.”

Christopher Mawer said: “I am deeply impressed by the professionalism and precision of these exercises. These qualities were exhibited by every participant of the exercises. I will definitely share my impressions with the management of BP.”

Information for editors
The Uvek Oil Depot of OJSC Saratovnefteprodukt is engaged in reception, storage and dispense of oil products. Gasoline, diesel fuel, and fuel oil are pumped into the tank farms of the oil depot and then dispensed into rail tank cars, oil tankers, and oil tank trucks for consumers. In the navigation period on the Volga river, dark oil products, such as furnace oil, are loaded into river oil tankers. The Uvek Oil Depot has three own mooring berths, one of which is used for loading oil products into ships and vessels and is equipped with a loading rack, and the other two are used for temporary mooring of ships and vessels. The mooring berths of the oil depot are in the bayou of the Volga river separated from the main river bed by an artificial dam.