Activists protest against oil pipeline

ACTIVISTS grouped within a civil initiative called ‘No to The Oil Pipeline Through Žitný Ostrov’, which opposes the planned construction of an oil pipeline between Slovakia and Austria across Žitný ostrov, have met with Economy Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek to discuss possible alternatives for the project, the TASR newswire reported. Žitný ostrov is an area in south-west Slovakia where important drinking-water reservoirs are located.

ACTIVISTS grouped within a civil initiative called ‘No to The Oil Pipeline Through Žitný Ostrov’, which opposes the planned construction of an oil pipeline between Slovakia and Austria across Žitný ostrov, have met with Economy Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek to discuss possible alternatives for the project, the TASR newswire reported. Žitný ostrov is an area in south-west Slovakia where important drinking-water reservoirs are located.

According to the leader of the initiative, Miroslav Dragun, it would be less harmful to the environment if the so-called northern corridor were used, with the pipeline crossing the Small Carpathians north of Bratislava.

“Even though the pipeline would then be ten kilometres longer, costs would remain the same - or they could actually be lower because the technically demanding tools that would be required if the route passed through a protected area wouldn't be needed,” Dragun told TASR.

The Economy Ministry has not decided on the pipeline’s route yet.

“The minister has had at least one more route worked out that should circumvent the whole area of Žitný ostrov, but the definitive decision will probably not be made until June 30,” said ministry spokesman Vahram Chuguryan.

The civil initiative plans to collect 100,000 signatures against the construction of the pipeline as per the current controversial plan.


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