Experts from the EU will help to solve the problems at the Solotvyno salt mine

The Minister on the Danube Strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Istvan Joo has come to Transcarpathia for a working visit. He is accompanied by the delegation of scientists, water management specialists from Hungary. Today, together with the Chairman of the Transcarpathian Regional Council Volodymyr Chubirko, they visited the Solotvyno salt mine. This visit was agreed in May this year during a videoconference between Volodymyr Chubirko and Istvan Joo. Then, Hungarian partners promised to examine the situation at the salt mine.

The situation at the salt mine is becoming more complicated every year. Experts even warn that there may be a leak of salt water into the Tisa River, which threatens ecological disaster on a cross-border level.   In order to understand the situation and predict its development, researches are required.

The total estimate of work that would resolve the situation amount to more than three hundred million hryvnia. But allocation of funds and the commencement of works has been postponed for years.

As suggested by Volodymyr Chubirko, the problem may be addressed in the framework of the European Danube strategy, because it concerns the security of water region of many EU countries. He states: the situation at the salt mine has been recognized as emergency, it was decided to build a town for resettlement of people from Solotvyno to Tereblya. The houses have been, but the people do not want to move there. Karst cavities keep forming. In April, a new cavity formed there. 

So far, the situation is stable. According to water management specialists, salt level in the Tisa is much lower than the allowed level.

The Deputy Director of the Main Office of Water Management of Hungary Laszlo Perger named the main reasons for the situation at the salt mine based of the preliminary analysis. "Those are salt extracting with explosives, and absence of water disposal. Currently, it is necessary to further examine the problem, the develop a plan of technical measures. Maybe, to conclude agreements between Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania to address problems of Solotvyno salt mine" – the official says.

Istvan Joo thanked representatives of the region for raising the problem at government institutions of the EU.    

Volodymyr Chubirko noted that over the past 5 years this problem has also become economic.   "The project for elimination of the disaster aftermath should be reviewed and assessed by European experts.  We hope to receive assistance from the EU. Scientists should give the answer how to resolve this situation," – the Chairman of the Regional Council said.

Istvan Joo proposed a phased approach to the problem, because this is a problem for the whole Danube Region. Hungary will suggest other EU countries of the Tisa basin to join this project.