Erbil authorities crack down on non-compliant oil refineries
Dilshad Hussein, Director of the Erbil Environmental Office, told Kurdistan24 that the campaign aimed to ensure adherence to environmental guidelines.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Erbil security forces, in collaboration with the governor's office committees, the Environmental Board, and Erbil police, conducted inspections of 44 oil refineries near Erbil on Thursday, resulting in the closure of non-compliant facilities and the arrest of their owners.
Dilshad Hussein, Director of the Erbil Environmental Office, told Kurdistan24 that the campaign aimed to ensure adherence to environmental guidelines. “We closely monitored the work of several refineries. Some happily complied with the regulations and had no issues, but those failing to meet the standards were shut down, and their owners were arrested,” he explained.
Hussein emphasized that the campaign is ongoing to ensure full compliance. He noted that 13 refineries in the Qushtapa sub-district had successfully met environmental standards. “We have controlled all refineries in Qushtapa and will now focus on those in Gwer,” he added.
Ardalan Fatih, the spokesperson for the Erbil security forces, revealed that some refineries in the Gwer sub-district were warned about operating secondary, unregulated facilities. These secondary refineries produced low-quality gasoline, posing environmental risks.
The operation reflects Erbil's commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and ensuring the safe operation of oil refineries in the region.