Iraqi specialists learn experience of Ventspils nafta termināls in the area of good environmental management

Today, October 19, 2009, the joint stock company Ventspils nafta subsidiary -
crude oil and petroleum products transshipment company Ventspils nafta
termināls Ltd - will be visited by a delegation of 35 people of Iraqi Ministry
of Environment of Kurdistan region. The purpose of this visit is to learn
experience of Ventspils nafta termināls Ltd in maintaining good environmental
management. Since the high standards of environment protection system are
recognized as a great basis for organizing good environmental management, the
Environment consultations company Venteko Ltd in cooperation with the Ministry
of Environment of the Republic of Latvia has arranged training course for
representatives of Ministry of Environment of Kurdistan on environment
protection and management. 

The real activity of Ventspils nafta termināls Ltd in complex, continuous and
successful dealing with environmental issues is well demonstrated by the
permanently ensured environment management system certification - already since
2000, operation of the terminal has been certified in accordance with
requirements of the international environmental management standard ISO14001.
The periodically necessary recertification procedures are repeated taking into
account the latest environment protection standards, by revising and improving
quality and management procedures of the company, repeatedly exploring
environmental aspects in all work processes of the terminal, and by involving
the company's employees who work in the particular processes. 

 “Environment policy of Ventspils nafta termināls Ltd is not based on imposed
standards or norms - our company has continuously taken its own proactive
initiative to deal with environmental issues in as much effective manner as
possible. For example, management of groundwater and air quality was
implemented in the terminal before these matters were even defined as national
environmental quality standards. We ourselves have undertaken not only to carry
out series of environment protection tasks (to research company's adverse
impact on environment and to reduce it, to ensure conformity of the company's
operation with the highest environmental standards, to educate employees and
encourage their involvement in implementation of environment policy), but also
to ask our cooperation partners to make use of environmentally friendly
technologies, goods and services,” emphasizes Director of Environment and Labor
Protection Service of Ventspils nafta termināls Ltd Povilas Pauparas. 

Ventspils nafta termināls Ltd arranges implementation of environment policy
with the help of environment protection structural unit. There is an
environment quality and safety laboratory in the company, which has state of
art equipment. In order to address the terminal's environment matters in a
coordinated and effective manner, an environment management program is
developed and updated every year. The mentioned program covers such
comprehensive measures as maintenance of safety level of technological
processes, by continuous investments in infrastructure, improvement of the
functioning environment monitoring system, remediation of polluted areas,
improvement of quality and environment management system, as well as informing
the society about achievements of Ventspils nafta termināls Ltd in the area of
environmental management. 

SIA Ventspils nafta termināls Ltd is a subsidiary of AS Ventspils nafta. 51% of
it belongs to AS Ventspils nafta while 49% are owned by the Vitol company
Euromin Holdings (Cyprus) Limited. The terminal renders transit services:
reception of oil and diesel fuel via pipelines, as well as reception, storage
and transshipment of diesel fuel, motor gasoline and other petroleum products
delivered by railway and sea. 




     
JSC Ventspils nafta
For further information -
Gundega Vārpa,
Public Relations and Advertising Manager, 
tel.: +371 67229182;
e-mail: gundega.varpa@vnafta.lv
www.vnafta.lv
www.vnt.lv