Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill Closed Temporarily

Baikal Explorer

Lake Baikal

The infamous Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill has been in operation and has polluted Lake Baikal continuously since 1966. As of October 2, 2008, in a great victory for Lake Baikal, the mill stands silent, awaiting conversion to a closed-cycle system. With a closed-cycle, the mill will discharge significantly less toxic waste into Baikal, the world's oldest and deepest lake. Baikal is known for holding 20% of the world's fresh water and as home to over 1600 endemic species of plants and animals, including the world's only freshwater seal.

In spite of the victory, Pacific Environment and our partners in the Baikal region believe that the mill must be closed for good in order to fully protect Baikal. Under the closed cycle system, it will be even easier to hide illegal discharge from inspectors and the problem of air pollution from the mill will persist. We also believe the Russian government must pursue alternative sustainable development options in order to deal with unemployment in the town of Baikalsk. The Baikal Environmental Wave continues to work diligently to close the plant and promote sustainable economic development options for the Baikal region.

The temporary closure comes on the heals of a September 26 meeting regarding a lawsuit filed by the Russian Environmental Protection Agency against the Pulp and Paper Mill. The Agency cited illegal industrial dumping into Baikal as the basis for the suit. Yury Trutnev, director of the Agency, flew to Baikal to preside over the mill's transition to a closed-cycle.