Environmental Protection Engineering S.A. undertakes the final cleanup of the Lebanese Coastline

Lebanese Ministry Of Environment and EPE SA signed a contract for Phase III Oil Spill Cleanup Operations

Environmental Protection Engineering S.A. Press Release

Beirut, Lebanon, Feb.25, 2010 – After several successful environmental projects in Lebanon, Environmental Protection Engineering S.A. (EPE SA ) recently won an international bid for offers and has been awarded a contract from the Higher Relief Commission of Lebanon (HRC) to provide oil spill cleanup services for the Lebanese coastline.

The signature of the contract was held under the auspices of his Excellency Mr. Mohammad Rahal, Minister of Environment of Lebanon. Dr.Vassilios Mamaloukas-Frangoulis, Director of Marine Environment Protection Dept. represented EPE SA, whereas General Yehia Raad, Secretary General, signed on behalf of the HRC. Mr. Rahal highlighted the fact that the Lebanon oil spill cleanup project has reached its final phase with this project financed by a donation from the Norwegian Government. He further expressed his satisfaction on EPE’s SA engagement to complete the cleanup operations before the tourist season.

On behalf of EPE SA , Dr. Mamaloukas-Frangoulis stated that this contract concludes the cleaning of the Lebanese coastline in which EPE SA proudly participated, undertaking the bigger part of the operation starting in October 2006.

Background

During the summer of 2006 an attack of the Israeli air-force destroyed the fuel tanks of Jiyeh power plant, located 30km south of Beirut. As a result, approximately 15.000 tons of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) leaked into the sea, causing a major ecological disaster and polluting the Lebanese coastline at a length of more than 150 km.

Having already completed four major cleanup and two oil spill waste transportation projects as well as one comprehensive oil spill shoreline survey from Tyre to the Northern Border of Lebanon, EPE SA already has a well-trained and experienced local workforce and supervising personnel as well as sufficient equipment to organize and implement any cleanup operation in the area.

The new project covers the oil spill cleanup operations of 10 Sites in the South and North of Beirut stretching from Akkar up to Jiyeh and is going to be implemented in coordination with the HRC / Ministry of Environment (MoE) and the Norwegian Embassy.

ABOUT EPE

Environmental Protection Engineering S.A., founded in Greece in 1977 by Mr.John Polychronopoulos, is the oldest and largest private company in the Eastern Mediterranean offering complete services for protection and clean-up of the industrial and marine environment.

Offering state of the art equipment and highly trained personnel, EPE SA has a leading role in oil spill response in the Mediterranean for the last three decades.

Contact:
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENGINEERING S.A.
Tel: +30 210 4060000
Fax: + 30 210 4617423
www.epe.gr
Email: spillresponse@epe.gr

Source: Environmental Protection Engineering S.A.