Positive discussions following the working group meeting, the visit of local and regional representatives to the refinery, and the thematic session of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Assembly
Last week, INA informed representatives of local and regional authorities about the ongoing remediation of historical subsurface contamination at the Rijeka Refinery. The second meeting of the expert working group, established by the County, was held at the refinery, where INA representatives, together with members of the international consortium Lamor & Litoclean, presented a permanent technical solution designed to prevent any discharge into the sea.
The following day, a thematic session of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Assembly, held jointly with the Kostrena Municipal Council at the Kostrena Public Library, focused on the state of the environment and the implementation of remediation measures in the area surrounding INA’s Rijeka Refinery.
The session brought together representatives of the County, the Municipality of Kostrena, INA, and expert institutions, with the goal of sharing information and strengthening cooperation in implementing soil and marine protection measures.
Prior to the session, Members of Parliament, County representatives, and officials from neighbouring cities and municipalities had the opportunity to visit the refinery as part of a working meeting.
At the session, Bojan Lončar, Head of Maintenance at the Rijeka Refinery and Programme Manager for Remediation, presented the progress of the “Subsurface Remediation and Sea Protection” project, which includes the construction of a hydraulic barrier as a comprehensive, long-term solution. He also outlined a series of short- and medium-term measures, such as regular pumping, sewer and tank rehabilitation, and the use of ocean booms – all aimed at protecting the environment.
“Our focus is on removing historical contamination from the subsurface and preventing its migration towards the sea. The latest findings from the Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County show that seawater quality in front of the refinery has significantly improved, which is the result of a systematic and responsible approach to remediation,” said Lončar, adding that INA, in cooperation with the international consortium Lamor & Litoclean, plans to implement the permanent technical solution by 2027, fully eliminating the risk of any discharge into the sea.
All participants, both during the refinery visit and at the session itself, highlighted the significant progress achieved since the beginning of the year, particularly in terms of communication and coordination between INA and the local community.
County Prefect Ivica Lukanović described the discussions as constructive and encouraging:
“The County understands the need for development and will support such processes, but we expect the ultimate protection of the environment and citizens’ health. This must be a shared priority for all stakeholders,” he said.
Chairman of the County Assembly, Marko Boras Mandić, thanked INA for its cooperation and underlined the importance of maintaining a balanced coexistence between industry, the local community, and tourism, while the Mayor of Kostrena, Dražen Vranić, added:
“I believe that we will soon reach a comprehensive solution to this issue.”
Participants agreed that mutual understanding and open dialogue between INA, the County, and the Municipality of Kostrena form the foundation for a successful and sustainable resolution of this long-standing challenge.