The agreement on the implementation of this project between the government of the Leningrad Region and JSC Russian Aluminum Management was signed at SPIEF-2023. Regional officials are trying to reassure local residents, saying that the project does not cause any harm to the environment.
Project for 400 billion rubles
The RUSAL company is going to build four technological lines of alumina production on a 1,000-hectare site in the Lomonosovsky district and a port infrastructure in Ust-Luga. The total production capacity will be 4.8 million tons per year. It is planned that the plant will be built near Sosnovy Bor, since electricity from the Leningrad NPP is needed for the production of alumina.
In addition to the alumina refinery, it is planned to build a deep-water port and infrastructure, a slag storage facility, energy and auxiliary facilities. The volume of investments in the project for the construction of an alumina refinery and the development of port infrastructure in the Leningrad Region will amount to 400 billion rubles.
“The distance exceeds the sanitary zone”
This week, on the official page on the social network “VKontakte” of the Committee for State Environmental Supervision of the Leningrad Region, clarifications for residents were published. “The site, which is considered for the placement of an alumina plant, is located at a sufficient distance from settlements, significantly exceeding the required sanitary zone. In particular, the distance from Sosnovy Bor is 15 km,” the committee said in a statement. Officials do not provide a more detailed description of the location for the construction site.
But the department emphasized that in negotiations with the management of RUSAL, the administration of the Leningrad Region “unequivocally outlined its position on the highest requirements for environmental safety of production and the adoption of comprehensive measures to reduce the environmental burden, including the implementation of additional environmental measures in the territory of presence.” The final decision on the possibility of locating production will be made based on the results of design and survey work, environmental review and public discussion. It was announced that this examination will be carried out by the central office of Rosprirodnadzor.
“What’s the intrigue?”
The committee’s comments prompted renewed criticism from local residents. Under the department’s post on the social network, there are several pages of angry comments. An equally heated discussion has unfolded in recent days in the My Sosnovy Bor group (the most visited social network group in this city).
“In the Lomonosovsky district it is difficult to find a place that would be equally remote from all settlements. What is the problem with reporting the construction site? What’s the intrigue? People have the right to information – it is necessary, first of all, to make a decision to move, ”writes a resident of the Leningrad Region. “15 km is not enough, even very little. If the wind blows towards the forest, then everyone will suffocate,” fears a resident of the city of Sosnovy Bor.
RBC Petersburg sent a request to the press service of RUSAL about the reaction of the inhabitants of the Leningrad region to the project of a new alumina production in the region.
