Rescue service specialists are putting the boom into the River Nevezis in a training event.
The cities of Panevezys in Lithuania and Kalmar in Sweden continue their successful Balticum-project. This time the city of Kalmar has donated a 75 m long boom and 4 tons of absorbent to be used in collecting oil that has spilled into the River Nevezis. The donation was handed over to the representatives of Panevezys in an international seminar on “The Absorption of Oil Products from the River Nevezis” in Panevezys.
The absorbent (“ecopearl”) is environmentally friendly material made of volcano ashes, harmless to the flora and fauna of the river. One kilogram of this “ecopearl” absorbs approximately four liters of oil from the water.
At present, oil is spilled into the river about twice a year and according to Mr Romualdas Kisieliunas, Head of the Civil Security Department in Panevezys Region, the donated amount of absorbent which can absorb approximately 16 tons of oil should last for five years. Until now spilled oil has been manually collected from the shores, which is a time-consuming and laborious task.
For further information on this or any other environmental projects going on between Panevezys and Kalmar, please contact Ms Zita Tverkute, Head of the Environmental Protection Department of Panevezys, fax: +370 54 33716.
