Combating oil pollution of Issyk-Kul Lake in focus at OSCE-supported discussion

BALYKCHY, Kyrgyzstan, 29 November 2013 – An OSCE-supported roundtable discussion on oil pollution in Kyrgyzstan’s largest lake Issyk-Kul took place today in the lakeside  town of Balykchy.

Government officials, civil society representatives, and local and international environmental experts and scientists discussed ways to combat groundwater oil pollution which occurred as a result of the collapse of worn-out pipes from the Soviet-built Balykchy petroleum storage depot in mid-1990s.

According to Tatyana Konovalova, head of the public organization Akmena, the underground oil slick is slowly moving towards the shore, which once mixed with the waters of the lake, will pose a major threat to a number of unique species inhabiting Balykchy bay area. It will also affect tourism in the lake area and as a consequence the livelihood of local residents who heavily rely on income from it.

Following the presentation of scientific reports and a site visit to the affected area, the event participants discussed the practical work the local community carries out to combat the oil pollution, particularly the initiatives supported under the Small Grants Programme of UNDP and the Global Environmental Facility.

Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said: “The OSCE Centre in Bishkek organized today’s event as a part of its wider project to raise environmental awareness in the country. Supporting exchange of information and experiences allows all parties to more effectively co-ordinate their efforts aimed at ensuring environmental security in the region.”