27.10.2014

October 23-24 at the water utility territory of St. Petersburg under the chairmanship of the Director of the Department of International Cooperation Ministry of Russia Nuritdinov Inamova a plenary session of the St. Petersburg initiative.

"St. Petersburg Initiative" becomes a real platform of international public-private partnerships, the exchange of ideas, technologies and projects. "This was stated in his opening remarks at the opening of the fifth meeting of the "St. Petersburg Initiative" Director of the Department of International Cooperation Ministry of Russia Nuritdin Inamov.

The program of the meeting brought together several thematic modules: strategic development, regional cooperation, implementation of projects in the field of water resources, climate change and energy efficiency, "green shipping", and recycling.

N.Inamov informed about improving the system of regulation and the introduction of economic incentives of economic agents to introduce the best technology. In particular, the participants showed great interest generated by the law number 219-FZ "On Amending the Federal Law" On Environmental Protection "and some legislative acts of the Russian Federation," the legal framework and incentives for the modernization of production, reduce environmental pollution, energy and resources to and, ultimately, to improve the competitiveness of Russian industry.

Director of "Vodokanal of St. Petersburg" Felix Karmazinov described the progress in the implementation of an integrated project of subordinate organizations to reduce the negative impact on the single water system "Ladoga Lake - Lake Onega - Neva River - Gulf of Finland" - one of the key projects of "St. Petersburg Initiative ". In his speech, he said that under the program to reduce the negative impact on the environment of the Baltic Sea "Vodokanal of St. Petersburg" commits itself to participate in the work on the survey areas which require the localization of the sources of negative impact on water bodies. The organization will also identify priority areas for priority improvement, attracting partners with effective technological solutions, will issue recommendations on the implementation of effective measures and mechanisms to attract investment. Furthermore, F. Karmazinov spoke about the benefits of technological solutions for small settlements are exemplified reconstruction project of sewage treatment facilities on about. Balaam, and examples of successful cooperation, "water utility" with industry to search for the best available environmental technologies. "By 2025, we plan to fully resolve all the problems of water pollution in the region," - he concluded.

Regional cooperation in the format SPbI covers more regions of the North-West Federal District. Thus, the improvement of technology of preparation of drinking water and wastewater treatment, reconstruction, modernization and new construction of water and sewer facilities are priority directions of development of water sector in the Republic of Karelia.

First Deputy Minister of Environment of the Republic of Karelia Alexei Pavlov said that the region has experience in cooperation with international financial institutions such as the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) and the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (NDEP). Since 2012 I realized stage of modernization of sewage treatment plants, where the creditors are NEFCO and the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB). The project is implemented with the assistance of grant funds of the Government of Karelia, the Finnish Ministry of Environment and NDEP.

On experience of investment resources is also the chairman of the Committee on Public Utilities and Transport Leningrad region Konstantin full, noting that among the priorities of the region to address environmental issues of water sector include the establishment of the working mechanisms on the basis of public-private partnerships. It is in this context, the participation of the region in SPbI can open new opportunities for attracting investment in the housing sector and the environment in the area.

In the Kaliningrad region, with the support of Ministry of Russia, and with the involvement of the EBRD grants work on modernization of boiler plants, reclamation of landfills, implemented a number of environmental programs, including the development of environmentally friendly transport.

In turn, representatives of NEFCO and NDEP noted their satisfaction with the development of partnerships with Russia, in particular, in the Republic of Karelia and the Kaliningrad region, noting that Russia ranks first among countries in terms of investment.

Within the section "green shipping" on improving the legal framework of motor fuel market in Russia, said the head of the Office of Government Relations LLC "Gazprom gas fuel" Denis Vorobyev. He noted that the list of orders of the President of the Russian Federation on June 11, 2013 include the development of a comprehensive action plan to increase the use of natural gas as a motor fuel. A special working group on the use of natural gas as a motor fuel in the Government Commission on FEC, reproduction of the mineral resource base and improving energy efficiency, consider and prepare proposals for the execution of orders of the President of the Russian Federation.

The world's largest shipping company MAERSK started construction of 4 large containerships on liquefied natural gas (LNG). It is expected that the new container ships will be walking in the Baltic Sea - this informed the head of the Department of Business Development «MAERSK Oil Trading» Jesper Mortensen. At the same time, he noted that, despite the efforts of the Baltic States by the greening of maritime transport, not all ship owners meet the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which indicates the need for further coordination of efforts at the international level.

New Russian software can provide a significant reduction in electricity consumption for production sites and in households. This is evidenced by the project, voiced by the executive director of NPK "OPTEL" Abil Vezirov. Besides this project, in the framework of the relevant section of the meeting on the best environmental technology company representatives told "Haldor Topsoe" (Denmark), JSC "Integra-S", "Network groups" (Finland) and UNIDO.

Current projects in the field of waste management are implemented with the support of Ministry of Russia UNIDO Centre in the Russian Federation. The purpose of the project - to create a legal and technological conditions for the formation of a Russian system of integrated management of biohazardous waste on the example used tires and waste electronic and electrical equipment.

Summing up the meeting N. Inamov noted that the format of "St. Petersburg Initiative" allows to overcome political differences and focus on specific applications, while ensuring that the goals of sustainable development in the region. The interventions show a growing interest in the development and implementation of best environmental technologies and practices, as well as the great potential as a unique format SPbI interregional and international cooperation.

The event-based information and educational center "Vodokanal of St. Petersburg" was attended by about 100 participants, representatives of the Ministry of Russia, the Russian Foreign Ministry, subordinate agencies and services, administration of St. Petersburg, Leningrad, Kaliningrad, Novgorod Oblast, Republic of Karelia, officials Baltic States, Russian and international development banks, foreign companies - suppliers of technologies in the field of environmental protection, as well as non-governmental environmental organizations.

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