Does Bryanschina need an oil refinery?
We have been long used to rank the Bryansk oblast among lagging productive economies. The time might have come to change its status.
In 2005 there have been commissioned an oil-loading terminal with time filling and up-to-date oil-loading station Zhecha of Moscow Railway’s Braynsk Division. To construct and run the oil-loading terminal at Zhecha station an affiliate of the oil company was established named RussNeft-Bryansk OOO. The start-up of the terminal was a result of successful implementation of the first-rate investment project by RussNeft. Furthermore it means significant tax assessments to the local budget, job placement for 450 people and aid in tackling social problems of the region. The Bryansk oblast can consolidate its status as an oil region by implementing another first-rate investment project of RussNeft related to the construction of an oil refinery on its territory. The idea of the project is to supply with oil products Bryanschina proper, as well as the Smolensk and Tula regions.
Such a big project cannot be done without thorough appraisal by profice services, participation of the Bryanks region’s authorities, and above all without taking into consideration the opinion of Bryanschina’s residents. So, is the new refinery to be built?
Victor Noreiko, a music manager of the local drama theater:
‘One ought not to decline the possibility. Just recall how we turned down the construction of a coca-cola factory. Now Oryol is getting on much better than Bryanschina. To have such business will mean an upsurge of the economy in the region and new high-paid jobs against the background of Bryansk salaries. The ecology must not suffer as modern facilities take proper account of all the environmental requirements’.
Olesya Alexandrovna Kolganova, a teacher at the economics and public administration chair of the Bryansk State Engineering Academy:
Investing in the economy of our oblast will be a great advantage as we are lagging behind our neighboring regions. It will also mean new jobs. And as oil business is very profitable, the people will have rather high salaries. On the other hand, oil is the first pollutant. The founders must seriously consider environmental safety of the refinery. But on the whole I assume that there are more positive aspects in that.
Andrey, a student of the forestry faculty at the Bryansk State Engineering Academy:
‘Definitely it’s good to have own gasoline in the oblast. Its quality may be better on the new facilities and prices more reasonable. We have a car and for our car it will be very interesting. However as a future forestry worker I much fear for the environment. Of course if the cleaning system is at the European level there will be no problems. Attitude of people and up-to-date treatment facilities are equally important here.