Allocating over 1.4 billion rubles to address urgent situations in the Kerch Strait
Russian Government Steps Up to Tackle Oil Spill Aftermath
After the devastating oil spill that occurred due to the tanker collision in the Kerch Strait on December 15, 2021, the Russian Government has decided to take action. A considerable sum of 1.4 billion rubles from the government's reserve fund will be allocated to deal with the environmental catastrophe.
The funds will mainly be utilized by Rosmorrechflot to monitor marine water pollution caused by the oil products and to localize and eliminate such pollution. Moreover, these funds will also be employed to investigate the sunken ship fragments, identifying potential oil leaks, and sealing them, as reported by the Government's press service on Telegram.
There's also a possibility that up to 1.7 billion rubles could be allocated to support businesses in Anapa and Temryuk. The State Duma's Budget and Taxation Committee has recommended the lower house of parliament to adopt amendments to the 2025 budget in the second reading, allowing the unspent federal budget contribution to be invested in the charter capital of the "Tourism.RF" corporation.
Thousands of volunteers have been actively involved in removing oil-saturated sand from the beaches of Anapa and other affected coastal areas since the spill. Russian officials have warned of severe environmental damage, with President Vladimir Putin labeling it as an "ecological disaster." The authorities in Russia's southern Krasnodar region have declared a region-wide emergency in response to the ongoing impact of the spill.
To date, over 71,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil have been removed along a stretch of 56 kilometers (35 miles) of shoreline following the spill.
Interestingly, Ukraine has initiated legal actions against a Russian captain, alleging that the spill was a result of the captain's negligence in accounting for severe weather conditions in the area.
While the specifics of the financial allocations for the cleanup are not entirely clear, the government's efforts demonstrate a commitment to addressing the environmental damage caused by the oil spill.
The government's allocated funds for the oil spill cleanup will not only be used by Rosmorrechflot for monitoring and eliminating marine pollution but could also support businesses in Anapa and Temryuk, as suggested by budget amendments. In addition, efforts in the field of environmental-science will be crucial in investigating leakages from the sunken ship fragments. Finance will play a significant role in funding these endeavors to mitigate the impact on the environment and the affected regions.
