RUSSIA: Gazprom pipeline construction in Russian south may damage national wildlife preserve

Record ID: 755472

  • Title: RUSSIA: Gazprom pipeline construction in Russian south may damage national wildlife preserve
  • Date: 9th May 2007
  • Summary: MOUNTAIN RIVER AND VALLEY
  • Embargoed: 24th May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Environment / Natural World,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVA7IS0H8RJIN4POZ33LK7BBM291
  • Story Text: Plans by Gazprom, Russia's natural gas giant, to build a pipeline from the country's North Ossetian region to Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia may cause irreversible environmental damage, say local environmentalists.

    Pine trees and oaks, Caucasian mountain bison and golden eagles, lush Alpine meadows - these inhabitants and landscapes of the North Ossetian National Wildlife Preserve are now under threat.
    Gazprom, Russia's natural gas giant, is building a new pipeline through this area. The Dzaurikau-Tskhinval pipeline will bring gas through North Ossetia to the neighbouring renegade republic of South Ossetia in Georgia. The project will cost $600 million.
    "This pipeline will benefit society: first and foremost, people will get heat, but there are other advantages, the autoroute, for example, which will go through the mountains", said Anatoli Tandelov, head of pipeline construction. "Previously, I could never imagine the road here, at the height of 3148 meters. And also we will get electrical lines and fibre optic wires."
    Although the pipeline goes through the North Ossetian National Wildlife Preserve, construction companies are trying to convince scientists that the environmental damage is not irreversible.
    "People should not worry", said Anatoli Tandelov, head of pipeline construction. "It is easy to plant new trees and they will grow in these mountains. Unfortunately, we had to cut a lot of trees but soon we will plant new and better ones."
    Scientists are most concerned with the Shubi Nihasskaya cave This one-kilometre long cave is inhabited by the largest colony in the Caucasus region of rare bats. These are protected by the state. Scientists worry that this cave might collapse due to the pipeline construction.
    "Any anthropological influence on wild areas will have a negative impact on the local environment", said North Ossetia National Wildlife Preserve Scientist. "This pipeline which will go through the national wildlife preserve territory --- with all the digging, explosions needed for tunnel construction, and the road being built along the pipeline --- all these invasive factors can destroy the unique nature in this area of the national park. This part is inhabited by rare and endangered species, which are protected by the state.''
    Construction companies promise to finish the 163-kilometre gas pipeline by summer 2008. Work on the pipeline began in October 2006, just ahead of South Ossetia's November 12 referendum officially stating its desire for independence from Georgia.
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