Which enterprises were inspected in 2021?

The civil movement “Gavigudet” shares with you the list of the enterprises, which were inspected by the Department of Environmental Supervision in 2021.

In 2021, a total of 76 inspections of 44 enterprises were carried out, although as we read in “2021 Monitoring Report on the Rustavi Ambient Air Quality Improvement Action Plan (2020-2022)”, administrative correspondence was submitted to only 9 facilities.

In response to why administrative correspondence was submitted to only 9 enterprises, while all of them were operating in violation of the law, the Ministry officials explained that the administrative correspondence is submitted to the enterprise due to its violation of the conditions of the environment impact permit/environmental decision, while for non-fulfillment of the obligation of continuous instrumental self-monitoring, a fine in the amount of GEL 10,000 is envisaged.

During the year, the most, 6 protocols were issued to the metallurgical plant LLC “Rustavi Steel”. The enterprise was inspected unscheduled on June 18 and November 26 and the following violations were revealed:

– Violation of water resources protection legislation;

– Violation of ambient air protection legislation;

– Violation of the conditions established by the environmental decision;

– Conducting the activities under the Environmental Assessment Code without the environmental decision or screening decision;

– Non-fulfillment of obligations under the Waste Management Code;

– Non-fulfillment of the obligation regarding the continuous determination of the actual number of emissions from stationary sources of pollution into the ambient air by the instrumental method;

– Damage to trees and plants;

– Unorganized pollution of ambient air by the combustion products of the blast furnace;

Unscheduled and documentary inspections were also carried out in JSC „Rustavi Azoti“. The inspection revealed that the waste generated in the enterprise is not managed in accordance with the Waste Management Code, on the basis of which the administrative correspondence was submitted to the enterprise. The documentary inspection carried out on July 19 revealed that the enterprise is not fulfilling its obligation to continuously determine the actual number of emissions from stationary sources of pollution into the ambient air by the instrumental method.

The examination of LLC „Geosteel“ revealed that on February 26, the enterprise did not fulfil its obligations under the Waste Management Code, about which the administrative correspondence was submitted to it on June 30.

On March 5, another inspection revealed violations such as: conducting the activities under the Environmental Assessment Code without the environmental decision or screening decision; non-fulfillment of the conditions established by the environmental decision.

After the enactment of the new regulations on June 1, the enterprise was examined only once, on June 29, which revealed the non-fulfillment of the obligation regarding the continuous determination of the actual number of emissions from stationary sources of pollution into the ambient air by the instrumental method; violation of the rules of operation of the air dust collector devices; non-fulfillment of the conditions established by the environmental decision;

In 2021, another major polluter, LLC „Rusalloys“ underwent two documentary inspections and two examinations, which revealed:

– Non-fulfillment of the obligation regarding the continuous determination of the actual number of emissions from stationary sources of pollution into the ambient air by the instrumental method;

– Non-fulfilment of the conditions set by the environmental decision;

– Violation of the rules of operation of the air dust collector devices, as a result of which the ambient air was polluted by the combustion products of the blast furnace;

– Violation of the conditions set by the environmental decision;

– Due to the violation of the rules of operation of the cleaning systems and the relevant equipment, the ambient air was polluted by the combustion products of the blast furnace;

In LLC „RSM Corp“ scheduled inspection was carried out on August 4, as a result of which it was revealed that the enterprise does not fulfill its obligation regarding the continuous determination of the actual number of emissions from stationary sources of pollution into the ambient air by the instrumental method, as well as violates the rules of operation of the air dust collector devices; Administrative correspondence was submitted to the enterprise on the basis of non-compliance with the conditions set by the environmental decision.

As a result of the scheduled inspection of LLC „Eco Oil“ it was revealed that the enterprise conducts the activities under the Environmental Assessment Code without the environmental decision or screening decision, as well as the non-fulfillment of the conditions set by the environmental decision (29.12.21)

After the examination of the metallurgical plant LLC „Akhali Teqnologiebi“ on August 24, it was revealed that the enterprise violates the Ambient Air Protection legislation and the Waste Management Code.

After the inspection of LLC „Gia-2019“ it was revealed that the enterprise conducted its activities without the environmental decision or screening decision. The same violation was identified in the second cement plant LLC „Max Import“ at the beginning of the year, on January 18, however after the repeated examination, on May 28, it was revealed that the violation was not identified in the enterprise anymore and the violated conditions of the environmental decision were rectified in a reasonable time envisaged by the administrative correspondence. On August 6, after the documentary inspection, it was revealed that LLC „Max Import“ does not fulfill the obligation regarding the continuous determination of the actual number of emissions from stationary sources of pollution into the ambient air by the instrumental method.

Like LLC “Max Import”, during the examination of LLC “Solo” on April 13, it was revealed that the enterprise conducted its activities without the environmental decision or screening decision, however on August 9, after the scheduled inspection, the violation was not identified.

After the documentary inspection of LLC „Vivacement“, it was revealed that the enterprise does not fulfill the obligation regarding the continuous determination of the actual number of emissions from stationary sources of pollution into the ambient air by the instrumental method.

After the examination of LLC „Kartuli Tekstili“ it was revealed that it does not fulfill the obligations under the Waste Management Code.

After the documentary inspection of LLC „Inson“, LLC „Caucasian Pet Company“, LLC „Mshenebeli 2004“, LLC „Sinatle“, LLC „Alaverdi“, LLC „Georgian Solid Waste Management Company“, LLC „Socar Georgia Petroleum“ and JSC „Sarin“, it was revealed that these enterprises did not fulfill the obligation defined under the Environmental Assessment Code – in particular, the obligation to apply to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture by January 1, 2021 in order to receive the environmental decision.

Based on the documentary inspection of LLC „Mshenebeli 2004“on August 27, this enterprise also does not fulfill the obligation regarding the continuous determination of the actual number of emissions from stationary sources of pollution into the ambient air by the instrumental method.

Documentary inspection of LLC „Construction Service“ and LLC „Sinatle“ revealed that these enterprises have not submitted the data on the emission of harmful substances into the ambient air in accordance with the determined form and within the prescribed timeframe.

After the inspection of LLC „V.D.L.“ it was revealed, that the enterprise does not have a technical report on the air pollution sources and the inventory of harmful substances emitted by them.

After the scheduled inspection of LLC „A-M-B Alloys“, which is a metallurgical enterprise, a number of violations were revealed, in particular:

– Failure to submit the data on the recording of the emissions of harmful substances into the ambient air in the prescribed form and within the established timeframe

– Conducting the activities under the Environmental Assessment Code without the environmental decision or screening decision;

– Violation of the conditions set by the environmental decision, on the ground of which administrative correspondence was submitted to the enterprise and was instructed not to carry out regeneration of used oils until the relevant decision is made under the Environmental Assessment Code;

– Non-fulfillment of the obligation regarding the continuous determination of the actual number of emissions from stationary sources of pollution into the ambient air by the instrumental method;

– Non-fulfillment of obligations under the Waste Management Code, to which administrative correspondence was submitted to the enterprise;

Documentary inspections have shown that the following enterprises also fail to comply with the obligation regarding the continuous determination of the actual number of emissions from stationary sources of pollution into the ambient air by the instrumental method: LLC „Heidelbergcement Georgia“(02.07.21), LLC „Geoferometal“ (19.07.21) LLC „Fero Alloys Production“ (19.07.21) and LLC „Elba Export“ (26.08.21)

After the unscheduled inspection of LLC „Fero Alloys Production“ on February 18, it was also revealed that the enterprise violates the conditions set by the environmental decision and an administrative correspondence was submitted.

After the scheduled inspection of LLC „Rustavoil“ on August 30, it was revealed that there is a violation of the conditions set by the environmental decision, non-fulfillment of the obligation to create and implement a system for separation and collection of hazardous waste.

On October 11, after the examination of LLC „Mega Cement“, it was revealed that on the territory of the enterprise, instead of 4 units of silage – as defined by the environmental decision, 2 units of silage were arranged additionally, which are in working condition and are involved in the technological cycle. Due to the mentioned violation, an administrative correspondence was submitted to the enterprise and an obligation was imposed to suspend the operation of the silages until the environmental decision is made.

On November 3, the examination of LLC „Geo Enterprise“ showed that the enterprise conducted the activities under the Environmental Assessment Code without the environmental decision or screening decision.

After the scheduled inspection of LLC „Sulfeko“, it was revealed that the enterprise violates the conditions set by the environmental decision.

It is necessary to emphasize LLC „MN Chemical Georgia“, in relation to which based on the documentary inspection, non-fulfillment of two obligations were found out: to apply to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture by January 1, 2021 in order to receive the environmental decision (16.04.21) and to continuously determine the actual number of emissions from stationary sources of pollution into the ambient air by the instrumental method (26.07.21). However, this is so far the only enterprise, that nowadays fulfills the obligations defined by the law, which is appreciative, and we hope that 9 months after the enactment of the law, the approach of this company will be shared by the other companies too.

After the scheduled inspection of 2021 it was revealed that several enterprises do not operate. These enterprises are: LLC „Inter-Litonprodukti“, LLC „Foladi-2001“, LLC „Metex“, LLC „Virtuozi“, LLC „Algeti“, LLC „Industria Kiri“ (Overhaul works are to be carried out on the lime kiln, in particular, replacement of the damaged firebrick inside the kiln), LLC „Diva“, LLC „Ekodani“ and LLC „Geometal Group“ (the operation of the enterprises is suspended and repair works are underway.

The civil movement “Gavigudet” appreciates Department of Environmental Supervision becoming more active, but we think that this effort is not enough. The number of unscheduled, unannounced inspections shall be further increased in order to eliminate the problem of working in violation of regulations by the enterprises in the city. We think the production zone is not so big and its daily inspection should not be a problem. Only regular inspections can achieve the desired result, as from our experience we see that only documentary and scheduled inspections are not effective and 9 months after the enactment of the law, only one enterprise has a self-monitoring system installed and provides the Ministry information on emissions online and continuously.

The information material was prepared within the framework of the project “Defending Our Right to Clean Air in Rustavi” which is implemented with the support of the European Endowment for Democracy.