OKTA won a social responsibility recognition for eco project for cleaning oil sludge

(Skopje, 28.11.2018) - The project of OKTA for phytoremediation or purification of oil sludge by using plants, won a recognition as one of the best socially responsible practices in 2018. The recognition is awarded by the Ministry of Economy and the Coordinating Body for Corporate Social Responsibility of the companies in order to promote good corporate practice, innovation and responsible attitude of companies towards the community and the environment. 

The project "From oil sludge, by plants, to clean environment" is the first of its kind conducted in the country and is being implemented in cooperation with the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food. It is an innovative procedure of mixing the oil sediment, deposited as a residue during the crude oil processing in the past 30 years, by the soil in which takes place a natural process of biodegradation and phytoremediation. It uses natural way of dealing with industrial sludge, using the microorganisms and plants as biological treatment in enclosed concrete tanks without the use of chemicals. Thus, instead of oil sludge, was created soil in which are grown vegetable crops. 

"We worked really dedicated on this project. We have included all the necessary departments of the company, the academy public and consulted various experts in the field in order to achieve greater benefits and better results. We were led by the idea to create a solution that will be useful not only for OKTA, but for all companies that are facing with industrial waste in any way. At the place where previously there was oil sludge, now grow cereals. So I believe that in time, this innovative approach will contribute to finding effective solutions to protect and purify the ecosystem”, said Tatjana Rikaloska, Manager for Health, Safety and Environment in OKTA. 

The implementation of the project, which is implemented in several stages, is managed by a team composed of employees of the company, supported by the expert assistance of prof. PhD Tatjana Mitkova, prof. PhD Silvana Manasievska Simic and Assistant Professor PhD Mile Markovski from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food. In preparing the eco-project were used experiences of more refineries abroad, institutions and experts in the field.