Siberia-Pacific Pipeline

Siberia-Pacific Pipeline

Our partner in Yakutia Eyge Environmental Education Center (Eyge) has long been fighting against the Siberia-Pacific pipeline. When Transneft announced that the Siberia-Pacific pipeline would be rerouted 400 km away from Lake Baikal, it was considered a huge victory. However, this rushed and risky project is now threatening communities in the Republic of Sakha with oil spills and other potentially negative consequences.

The construction of the pipeline in Sakha (Yakutia) began in April of 2006, and there have been numerous violations reported since then. Large sections of trees are being trampled by bulldozers without appropriate permits. The pipeline also crosses several important rivers, including Lena River- the 10th longest river in the world (2,800 miles). Initially, Transneft suggested the micro-tunneling method, which is considered environmentally safer and less damaging to the river bed. However, the company unilaterally decided to use open cut river crossing, setting the pipeline in a trench in the bottom of the river, which makes it vulnerable to drifting ice blocks and erosion. The company was warned that that there would be no way to immediately stop the transfer of oil in the event of a spill.

Since the pipeline launch our partners recorded two oil spills in the first months of operation in 2010. Our partner Eyge reports that the first spill oiled at least 2000 square meters of land, with some of it leaking into a nearby creek. Both spills were the result of improper and sometimes illegal actions of VostokNefteProvod, Transneft's subcontractor, company operating the pipeline. In the case of the first incident the company was fined for damages and forced to conduct environmental rehabilitation. More worrying however is the prospect of a spill at the pipeline's crossing of the Lena River, which provides water to many Yakutsk residents.

Learn More:

Local Groups in the Yakutsk Protest the Unsafe Pipeline Crossing for Lena River