Shared initiatives for increasing security of the cross-border area in the event of ecological and chemical disasters

Acronym

EcoChem

NUMBER

PBU1/0077/16

Project type

Regular project

STATUS

Completed

THEMATIC OBJECTIVE

SECURITY

PRIORITY

3.2 Addressing common security challenges

PARTNERSHIP

PL-BY

LEAD BENEFICIARY

Siemiatycze Commune (Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland)

BENEFICIARY

Milejczyce Commune (Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland)
Perlejewo Commune (Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland)
Nurzec-Stacja Commune (Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland)
Dziadkowice Commune (Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland)
Hrodna Regional Department of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus (Hrodna Oblast, Belarus)

TOTAL BUDGET 2 052 775.89 € ENI CO-FUNDING 1 847 498.28 €

DURATION 28 months 01.06.2019 - 30.09.2021

Project description

Current equipment of the Voluntary Fire Department (VFD) units in Polish-Belarusian border area is inadequate to possible dangers. Due to its outdated type and age (40-50 years) it is very prone to failure and of weak efficiency. The VFDs are also not ready for any ecological or chemical disaster, contamination of Bug or Niemen rivers, despite of existing the real threats on both sides of the border (oil depot in Adamowo in Poland, Nitrogen Production Facility in Hrodna in Belarus).

The EcoChem project is going to support fire-fighting units in Poland and Belarus equipping them with specialist rescue and fire-fighting cars. The Polish side will buy nine vehicles including seven average rescue and two reconnaissance cars. The machines will serve to eight VFD units from Siemiatycze District, incorporated in national rescue and firefighting system (Słochy Annopolskie, Kajanka, Milejczyce, Perlejewo, Nurzec-Stacja, Siemichocze, Dziadkowice and Hornowo). In Belarus two cars will be transferred to chemical rescue unit in Hrodna: a high altitude rescue vehicle with a 50 m long lift and a recon-transport vehicle with anti-contamination devices (100 limiting barriers, rescue tools like hydraulic cutters, jacks, slowing, etc.). The equipment will be tested by Polish and Belarusian rescuers during joint trainings – Polish will share their experience in dealing with large scale fires and Belarusian will show how to fight chemical contamination of rivers.

The project creates solid framework for future cooperation of rescuers in the cross-border area of Poland and Belarus. The inhabitants of Siemiatycze District and Hrodna Oblast will be better protected from the results of dangerous events, such as malfunction in chemical manufacturing plant or fires of high natural value areas. Furthermore, Polish and Belarusian rescue units will foster their potential reaction in case of disaster arising in the regions.