OREANDA-NEWS. December 17, 2008. Sakhalin Energy has won the Environmental Project of the Year award. The Company’s protection of the Western Gray Whale population was recognised in the Environmental Efficiency of Economics category, reported the press-centre of Sakhalin Energy.

The award was presented by Yuri Trutnev, the Russian Federation’s Natural Resources Minister. Another diploma was awarded to Sakhalin Energy contractor, Starstroi for its implementation of the Sakhalin II onshore pipeline system.

The awards were established earlier this year by the Natural Resources Ministry. The Environmental Efficiency of Economics category is for projects implementing the most advanced environmental technology contributing to the mitigation of production-induced environmental impact and the increase of environmental safety at production, industry and community levels.

The first winners of the award included 46 projects from more than 700 nominations. In his welcome telegram addressed to the winners, the Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin said that the number of companies which were implementing innovations and new environmentally-friendly technology was growing and that their contribution to the development of the Russian economy was steadily increasing.

Sakhalin Energy’s Western Gray Whales protection programme, to mitigate any Project impact on these marine mammals, is ongoing. The whales’ summer feeding grounds lie close to the Piltun–Astokhskoye field in the Sea of Okhotsk, which is under development by the Company.

Western Gray Whales are a critically endangered species and are included in Russia’s Red Data Book. Together with Exxon Neftegas Limited, Sakhalin Energy carries out extensive monitoring of the Western Gray Whales which involves Russian and international scientists. Following the recommendations of environmental groups, the Company rerouted its planned offshore pipeline routes for the Piltun-Astokhskoye field to bypass the whales’ feeding areas.

During the construction of the Piltun-Astokhskoye (PA-B) platform and its associated offshore pipelines, Sakhalin Energy took a number of noise control measures to reduce noise levels to approved figures recommended by environmental consultants. According to independent monitoring, the implementation of Sakhalin II has not produced any significant impact on the protected whales.

Presenting the award, Mr. Trutnev noted that a thorough review of each candidate project was a kind of environmental audit. This high evaluation of Sakhalin Energy’s environmental activity supports the Company’s main business principles – reliable, effective, safe and environmentally responsible operation.

The annual Environmental Project of the Year award from the Russian Federation’s Natural Resources Ministry was established to provide additional motivation for the improvement of environmental programmes, to place a public focus on environmental problems and to provide an incentive for companies to continue environmental education.

This award from the Natural Resources Ministry entitles Sakhalin Energy to use the Environmental Project of the Year official logo.