Bartskhani Population Requests Fresh Air

On November 24, residents of Bartskhani settlement in Batumi blocked road. They protested unresolved ecologic situation caused by oil-producing factory BatOil in the area.

“We cannot take children in the street and even to the balcony because of horrible smell and dangerous smoke. We have been coping with this problem for several years and nobody has ever paid attention to us. We also want to breathe normal air? We are sick with it,” Nana Meladze from Bartskhani said.

“They can properly equip the factory and work in normal conditions. Smoke is not seen in day time. But as it gets dark, they start working. We cannot see smoke in the dark, but there is terrible smell. If everything works properly in the factory, people would not get poisoned. We cannot open even a window,” said Marina Beridze.

BatOil was sold several months ago; its new owner is Iveria Oil International Ltd.

Deputy Director of the Ltd Zaza Gumbaridze said population’s protest might be just. “Our company entered the factory a month ago and we could not re-equip everything. Purchase and installment of necessary filters need several months.”

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara