Geomonitoring canceled: is it worth the candle skin?

Mining companies reduce costs by eliminating the norms of geological monitoring and scientific support.

 

The need for geological monitoring has been the most controversial topic among subsoil, geologists and other industry professionals. But now the question is solved: CMU adopted a decree № 42 of January 28, 2015 according to which the norm to conduct geological monitoring is excluded from the Order of granting special permits for subsoil use.

 

Requirements for subsoil users to monitor appeared as a result of CMU № 615 «On approval of the issuance of special permits for subsoil use" in 2011. In p. 3 of paragraph 26 of the document appeared, that monitoring and scientific support for all special conditions of subsoil use shall be carried out by specialized state geological enterprises and organizations. This prerequisite displeased by the mining companies. The main claim was for the cost of such work and the conditions for their implementation. Moreover, in August 2014 the government increased the fiscal burden for gas companies in the form of higher rental payments doubled. Therefore, for the mining companies 'liberation' from the monitoring will provide an opportunity to save money.

 

It should say that it is the production of hydrocarbons, due to strong demand for energy resources in the country, today remains the most attractive to potential domestic and foreign investors. And the state should create favorable conditions for investment in the gas sector by reducing the fiscal burden and various fees to the state budget.

 

Monitoring of geological environment is a system of observation, collection, processing, transmission, storage and analysis of information on the state of the geological environment, forecasting its changes, the development of evidence-based recommendations for decision-making. Carrying out these activities in Ukraine was carried out on the basis of agreements between the specialized state enterprises and geological subsoil, which consisted right after obtaining a license to develop the field. Some experts have argued the need to cancel the monitoring that these works almost completely overlap with the activities of the state geological control that make checks free of charge.

 

 

March 4, 2015

Roman Storozhev, Oilreview

 

More material is read in the magazine "Terminal» №8 (750) from February 23, 2015