FC: Crodux is not responsible for water pollution in Slavonski Brod

The company Crodux energetika is being accused of polluting the water supply in Slavonski Brod, and director Branko Radošević emphasizes that the company ‘is absolutely not responsible’ for the water pollution.

Radošević reiterated the company’s stance that the ecological incident of surface pollution that occurred during the testing of the oil pipeline leading to the oil refinery in Bosanski Brod is not connected to the water pollution at the water supply from which Slavonski Brod and its surroundings are supplied.

– I cannot reliably state whether 150 or 200 liters have leaked. What I can state is that we collected all the liquid that has leaked and that we found with the water. The liquid has been collected and disposed of in a safe place. The remaining part of the liquid we will probably find in the ground if the ground has absorbed it, said Radošević, refusing to comment on the claims of the mayor of Slavonski Brod that it is possible that ten thousand liters of oil derivatives have leaked.

When asked if Crodux feels responsible for the pollution of the water supply, Radošević answered negatively, noting that the implementation of the analysis of the contaminated soil is the responsibility of the company AEKS, and that the data on the measures taken and the analysis of the soil and water from the accident site have been provided to Crodux and the City of Slavonski Brod.

Duspara: Remediation should have started immediately

Preparations for the remediation of the ecological incident zone that occurred on Wednesday began on Tuesday morning, and the mayor of Slavonski Brod, Mirko Duspara, stated that they should have started immediately, and that the City ordered an independent analysis of the contaminated soil, and will do the same for the water.

– This should have been done already on Wednesday, and they are doing it 6-7 days later. The findings from the first day have not been completed. Here we have every right to say that what happened on the ground is being concealed. It is normal for Crodux to say that this is not true, but why then are they doing all this today, said Duspara, who was observing the developments at the incident site from the sidelines.

He emphasizes that hydrocarbons have been detected at all measurement points in the city where samples were taken.

– The question is how long this will last. It can end in 15-20 days, but it can also last much longer. The worst-case scenario is that our water plant goes out of operation, meaning we have to close it. The plant is valued at 100 million kuna. It processes water from wells. Nothing like this has happened anywhere in the Republic of Croatia, noted Mirko Duspara.

He adds that the results of the water testing have not yet arrived, and appeals to the Public Health Institute to share the results with the Civil Protection Headquarters and the citizens of Slavonski Brod.

– This morning there was a lot of activity at the site of the eco-incident. Excavators and firefighters from Našice appeared, so we will see what is happening there. An inspector is also there. We will see if a more serious approach to remediation will be taken. I think remediation is delayed. The proper remediation should have been carried out on March 28 when it occurred. The disaster would certainly have been smaller than it is now, said Duspara.