EuroChem, Russia’s largest mineral fertilizers producer, and the John Nurminen Foundation, a private Finnish foundation specialized in Baltic Sea protection, jointly announce that, following its appointment in July 2013, Atkins started its first monitoring of phosphorus concentrations in the Luga River on October 9th, 2013. In accordance with the monitoring plan, water samples were taken from the Luga River both upstream and downstream of the Phosphorit facility. Additionally, Atkins began the assessment of the treatment system adjacent to the production facility. The first results of this assement are expected in early 2014.

As a reminder, in June 2012, EuroChem and the John Nurminen Foundation agreed to jointly appoint an independent organization to assess the effectiveness and sustainability of the surface water run-off treatment system which was constructed at the Phosphorit factory in 2012. Comprised of dams, storage ponds, a pumping station and a treatment facility, the system was constructed to purify phosphorus containing surface water run-off originating in the area adjacent to the production facility. In addition to assessing the treatment system, Atkins will monitor phosphorus concentrations in the Luga River upstream and downstream of the factory for one year, and calculate riverine phosphorus loads to the Baltic Sea.

Atkins was selected on the basis of its global references in industrial waste water management and surface water monitoring and assessment. EuroChem and the John Nurminen Foundation have agreed jointly on the contents of the consultancy assignment and will monitor the project completion together. EuroChem finances the auditing work.

The John Nurminen Foundation’s Clean Baltic Sea projects improve the state of the Baltic Sea. Symptoms of eutrophication are many, for example, the blue-green algal blooms that occur every summer. The most efficient way to reduce eutrophication is to cut the phosphorus load entering the Sea. The target of the Foundation’s Clean Sea projects is to achieve an annual reduction of 2,500 tonnes of phosphorus discharges by 2015, which is one sixth of the total target set by HELCOM. The Foundation’s Tanker Safety project aims to reduce the risk of an oil disaster by introducing a new navigation service ENSI® (Enhanced Navigation Support Information) to tankers in the Gulf of Finland. The Foundation’s Clean Baltic Sea operations are funded through private donations and public funding.  Please visit the website: www.cleanbalticsea.fi

Atkins is one of the world’s leading design, engineering and project management consultancies employing more than 17,800 staff including more than 2,000 water and environmental management specialists. Established in 1938, Atkins works with its clients to plan, design and enable solutions to meet the global challenges of population growth, energy demand, water availability and infrastructure. For more information please visit the website: http://www.atkinsglobal.com/