EuroChem, Russia’s largest mineral fertilizers producer and the John Nurminen Foundation jointly announce that , following its appointment in July 2013, Atkins has today started its first monitoring of phosphorus concentrations in the Luga River. In accordance with the monitoring plan, water samples were taken from the Luga River both upstream and downstream of the Phosphorit facility. Additionally, Atkins began the assessment of the treatment system adjacent to the production facility. The first results of this assessment are expected in early 2014.

As a reminder, in June 2012, EuroChem and the John Nurminen Foundation agreed to jointly appoint an independent organization to assess the effectiveness and sustainability of the surface water run-off treatment system constructed at the Phosphorit factory in 2012. Comprised of dams, storage ponds, a pumping station and a treatment facility, the system was constructed to purify phosphorus containing surface water run-off originating in the area adjacent to the production facility. In addition to assessing the treatment system, Atkins will monitor phosphorus concentrations in the Luga River upstream and downstream of the factory for one year, and calculate riverine phosphorus loads to the Baltic Sea.

Atkins was selected on the basis of its global references in industrial waste water management and surface water monitoring and assessment. EuroChem and the John Nurminen Foundation have agreed jointly on the contents of the consultancy assignment and will monitor the project completion together. EuroChem finances the auditing work.

Additional information:
Vladimir Torin
Head of Communications
EuroChem, Russia
tel: +7-985-760 1124
email: vladimir.torin@eurochem.ru

Marjukka Porvari
Director/ Projects on Eutrophication
John Nurminen Foundation, Finland
tel: +358-41-549 1535
email: firstname.lastname@jnfoundation.fi

Tuula Putkinen
Communications Manager
John Nurminen Foundation, Finland
tel: +358-400-907 809
email: firstname.lastname@jnfoundation.fi

Note to the editors:

EuroChem is a leading global agrochemical company, producing primarily nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, as well as certain organic synthesis products and iron ore. The Group is vertically integrated with activities spanning from mining and natural gas extraction to production, logistics, and distribution. EuroChem is currently developing two sizeable potash deposits in Russia with its VolgaKaliy (4.6 mtpa) and Usolskiy Potash (3.7 mtpa) greenfield projects. Headquartered in Moscow, it operates production facilities in Russia and Western Europe and employs more than 20,000 employees globally.
www.eurochem.ru

The John Nurminen Foundation’s Clean Baltic Sea projects improve the state of the Baltic Sea. Symptoms of eutrophication are many, for example, the blue-green algal blooms that occur every summer. The most efficient way to reduce eutrophication is to cut the phosphorus load entering the Sea. The target of the Foundation’s Clean Sea projects is to achieve an annual reduction of 2,500 tonnes of phosphorus discharges by 2015, which is one sixth of the total target set by HELCOM. The Foundation’s Tanker Safety project aims to reduce the risk of an oil disaster by introducing a new navigation service ENSI® (Enhanced Navigation Support Information) to tankers in the Gulf of Finland during the year 2014. The Foundation’s Clean Baltic Sea operations are funded through private donations and public funding.
www.cleanbalticsea.fi