WWF Russia Director Yevgeny Shvarts in the letter, which is available on the organization’s website, writes that the project environmental assessment study was completed ahead of schedule and that it includes several shortages and premature conclusions.
The organization now calls on the environmental watchdog to deal with the issue. WWF wants a temporary halt in the project.
The environmentalists maintain that the assessment study, which has positive conclusions, was completed on October 3, eleven days ahead of the deadline. This is remarkable, since the project is described as unique in complexity and unprecedented in Russia, the organization writes in a press release.
“In such short time (about 30 days), it is impossible to complete an assessment study on such an unprecedented project”, WWF Coordinator Aleksey Knizhnikov says. “In our opinion, it is impossible to carefully assess all possible risks and potential negative factors,” he adds.
According to the environmentalists, the project progress is now being speeded up, while quality standards are being lowered. The organization also maintains that SDAG have neglected much of the input received during the Shtokman hearings.
This will ultimately have a negative effect also on the SDAG, WWF maintains. The organization believes that an insufficient assessment study could make investors abstain from the project. Especially after the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, financial institutes emphasis ecological factor on the same line as economical parameters, WWF stresses.
Analysts have long speculated about the viability of the Shtokman project following the quick shifts in the global gas market and the recent drop in prices. The Sthokman developers in early February this year announced that the project will be postponed with three years and the production will start only in 2016. However, project partner Total has still publicly called on its partners to speed up the project development processes.
