THE NEARING parliamentary elections are changing the attitudes of political parties to the oil pipeline that would connect the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava with Austria’s Schwechat refinery via Žitný Ostrov, an area that has been called the most significant reservoir of drinking water in central Europe, the Sme daily reported on May 4.
An accident would contaminate the reservoir say critics of the oil pipeline’s route.
The Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) along with the NGO No to the Pipeline through Žitný Ostrov called on Austrian politicians to not support the construction of the pipeline on this route.
Meanwhile the Economy Ministry said that a different route is being considered for the pipeline.
The agreement about the pipeline was signed under the rule of the government of Mikuláš Dzurinda (SDKÚ) when pipeline operator Transpetrol agreed with Austria’s OMV to route the pipeline through Žitný Ostrov. Current Economy Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek had signed a memorandum about the pipeline, sticking to the originally planned route.
Only after protests did the ministry assign Transpetrol to prepare a different solution. Today, all of major political parties have said they are against the pipeline leading through Žitný Ostrov. The Austrian side, however, continues to support the original deal, Sme reported.
Source: Sme
Compiled by Michaela Stanková from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
