N O M I N A T I O N / I N I T I A L    R E P O R T


Northern Sakhalin, Russia

 Site Description
 Human Exposure & Health Impact
 Site Progress


Site Description 

Location & Size of Site
Northern Sakhalin has several onshore oil and gas fields developed by the Russian company "Rosneft-Sakhalinmorneftegaz" (SMNG) since the 1920's. Oil leaks/spills are common here due to the obsolete equipment, primitive drilling technologies and corroded oil pipelines. Two of the oldest oil fields are Katangly and Okhinskiy that still operates as it did about 75 years ago. These onshore Soviet-era oil companies cause massive pollution and environmental damage.

Contaminant Type, Source & Quantity
The main pollutant here is oil/grease leaking from old, corroded pipelines.

Transmission Pathways
Water, soil, food (fish)

Number of Potentially Affected People
37,800

Health Impact of Pollutant
There is no data available about the health consequences from the leakage of oil pipelines. However, according to a local NGO "Sakhalin Environment Watch" the incidence of cancer is markedly higher in the northern part of the island where the oil-fields are located than elsewhere.

Site Progress 
December 2004: This site was reviewed by the Technical Advisory Board. The company Rosneft-Sakhalinmorneftegaz received $40 million in EBRD credit in 2001, 14 million of which was allocated for the reconstruction of facilities that present a danger to the ecology and 11 million for the implementation of a program for ecological security. Blacksmith Institute will fund a local NGO, Sakhalin Environment Watch to monitor the proper utilization of these funds and to ensure that the company takes proper steps to curb pollution.