NEW: Dangerously polluting oil is being used to heat hospitals, schools, and public institutions across North Macedonia 🇲🇰
Our investigation into this threat to public health and the companies that profited from it. 1/
occrp.org/en/investigati…
Our investigation into this threat to public health and the companies that profited from it. 1/
occrp.org/en/investigati…
Early in 2019 a video of black smoke billowing out of a Skopje maternity hospital surfaced on social media.
People in North Macedonia, which has grappled with air pollution for decades, were shocked. We decided to see what caused these foul-smelling plumes 👇 2/
People in North Macedonia, which has grappled with air pollution for decades, were shocked. We decided to see what caused these foul-smelling plumes 👇 2/
Contracts showed this hospital, and many other public buildings, were burning heavy fuel oil in their heating systems.
All had bought it from Evrotim — a North Macedonian company with no logo, website, or office, but with ties to a powerful politician and businessman. 3/
All had bought it from Evrotim — a North Macedonian company with no logo, website, or office, but with ties to a powerful politician and businessman. 3/
🇨🇿Unipetrol ➡️ 🇧🇦 HIFA Oil ➡️ 🇲🇰Evrotim
Much of Evrotim’s oil was produced by Czech company Unipetrol. The product is usually burnt on ships or in factories.
It was then resold by powerful Bosnian company HIFA Oil, owned by one of BiH’s richest men. 4/
Much of Evrotim’s oil was produced by Czech company Unipetrol. The product is usually burnt on ships or in factories.
It was then resold by powerful Bosnian company HIFA Oil, owned by one of BiH’s richest men. 4/
Inspectors found some shipments also contained other oils of indeterminate origin.
Tests found these were laden with ash and sediment. One lab warned they could be "dangerous to human health and the environment." 5/
Tests found these were laden with ash and sediment. One lab warned they could be "dangerous to human health and the environment." 5/
Multiple officials have alerted authorities about these polluting oils.
A transport authority official complained it made their boiler break down. Oil companies said it created "unfair competition." An inspector who told reporters about the dirty oil imports was later fired. 6/
A transport authority official complained it made their boiler break down. Oil companies said it created "unfair competition." An inspector who told reporters about the dirty oil imports was later fired. 6/
Evrotim’s case is far from unique. Customs officials, a sample testing lab, and oil experts say they are seeing increasing amounts of dirty fuel oil coming from the EU into the Western Balkans. 7/
This investigation was a collaborative effort with our member centers @investigace_cz and @IRLMacedonia, which made a documentary on our findings.
See the hazardous smoke for yourself. 8/
See the hazardous smoke for yourself. 8/
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
