Gradual development of different branches of production in the 20th century played an important role in evolutionary changes of the society. Environmental problems arose in line with these processes. Emission, coming out of formation waters, is one of the by-products of oil production and used to produce iodine and bromine. However, the technology used at the turn of the 20th century and based on activated carbon absorbs iodine principle as well as improper observance of environmental activities led to accumulation of production wastes, enriched with natural radionuclides, on areas of iodine and bromine producing facilities. It in its turn caused artificial sources of gamma-ray emission.
As a result, such situation occurred in the areas of former iodine plants in Sabunchu, Surakhany districts of the capital and Neftchala region of the country, where polluted and fully degraded lands occupying over 50 ha were accumulated. Gamma-ray intensity here reached 6.7 mcSv/h; specific activity of radon in the air made 110 Bq/m3; specific gravity of radionuclides in soil – 25.0 thou Bq/kg; total concentration of oil products in soil – 11%. It caused danger since all these polluted areas were located either in the middle or in close vicinity to dwelling settlements.
After gaining a political and economic independence, the government of Azerbaijan in line with solution of crucial problems started attaching special importance to environmental problems as well. Adopted numerous legislative documents and regulations as well as ratified international conventions were the evidence of the highest priority that was given to the environmental problems. A number of environmental projects were completed under the guidance of the head of state of Azerbaijan.
“A plan of complex measures for improvement of the environmental situation in the republic of Azerbaijan in 2006-2010” was approved in accordance with President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev’s order #1697 dated September 28, 2006. It was a start up of the program of actions aimed at solution of environmental problems by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Azerbaijan. At the meeting dedicated to the outcomes of the first half-year implementation of the “State program on social-economic development of Baku and its settlements in 2011-2013” and held in June 2012, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev explained: “… the process of transportation of the remaining of the iodine plant, located in Baku, has started. It does not operate. Though, its wastes accumulated in its vicinities are poisonous. The budget provides funds to the Ministry of Emergency Situations. So all relevant parties are working on this issue…”.
In order to bring the projects on cleaning the polluted areas of former iodine and bromine plants from activated carbon, enriched with natural radionuclides, oil, oil products and other wastes, the Ministry of Emergency Situations invited IAEA specialists and experts to Baku from a number of foreign countries. IAEA representatives were directly involved in preparation of regulations in the course of cleaning operations and acceptance of restored areas.
A number of subdivisions of the Ministry of Emergency Situations were involved in implementation of these projects. ECOLAND LLC which possesses a “Special permit for performance of operations on use of nuclear wastes was determined as a project operator. This project which is implemented under control of the state agency for nuclear and radiological activity regulation of the Ministry of Energency Situations has been the second project of its kind in the global practice and the first one which has been fully implemented by own resources and funds of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
According to the classification of IAEA, iodine production wastes belong to long-term wastes with a low activation. When collecting and transporting them, they must be removed from the sites of accumulation and buried at a specially built Polygon with observance of all special safety measures. Such polygon was shortly designed near the area of “Isotope” Plant which belongs to the Ministry of Emergency Situations and locates in Perekishkul settlement. Operations on mechanized digging of pits, dispose of soil, leveling of pits, compression and leveling of regenerated soil, improvement of the polygon area and site electrification were performed during the construction of the facility.
Guided by the recommendations of IAEA, specialists of ECOLAND LLC offered to load hazardous wastes into vehicles in special bags in order to transport activated carbon enriched with natural radionuclides. In addition, all vehicles leaving the project site were washed with special substances under water pressure. These measures prevented the leakage of wastes into the environment during transportation. Carbon sacks were placed in the wells in layers. The top was backfilled with clay and pressed. After backfilling of wells, bentonite and block stones were laid above the wastes in order to secure insulation. All of it was pressed and leveled. A local clay sheet was laid on top of the area.
A total of 378.5 thousand cubic meters of polluted and degraded soil was moved out of rehabilitated areas and buried at a special polygon. As the result of performed operations, over 45 hectares of lands were fully recovered and commercialized at areas of Surakhany and Neftchala. An ECOLAND park occupying over 6 hectares has been set at an area of Sabunchu district.
