When KLASCO opened, residents did not ask the company any questions

After the information spread in the public about the possible pollution from Klaipėda port cargo company KLASCO, the company opened it for the residents and got ready to answer any questions of the residents, but people did not take advantage of this opportunity.

On Sunday, two of approximately three dozen Klaipėda residents who had previously registered came to KLASCO, but they were not interested in any matters related to possible pollution, but rather wanted a tour of perhaps the largest company at the port.

According to company manager Vitalij Muštuk, who also participated in the open-door events, 20 people came on Thursday, nevertheless, they were also interested in general information about the operation of the port.

The manager stated that such attitude of the residents is a little disappointing.

“It is a certain disappointment when people fail to come and you naturally face a question – is there an actual problem, if the problem exists – is it a sore issue? Can we make any decision at all, when people are not willing to come and speak to those, who know all the correct answers,” V. Muštuk told newspaper “Vakarų ekspresas”.

The manager said he was surprised that people tend to rely on unverified information and ignore reliable sources.

“For me as the manager, the biggest surprise is that people believe those stories. If there is some kind of problem and there are actually questions and one is interested in answers, then I would think that the easiest way is to approach and ask those questions to the responsible persons. If there is actually a problem of any kind and the person really faces questions and is eager to get some answers, I would believe that the easiest way is to approach and ask the responsible persons those questions. Everything I have said is information provided by the company manager, which can always be relied upon. I am responsible for my words,” stated V. Muštuk, who has been managing KLASCO for two years.

The open-door days were organised as a reaction to the information about pollution accusing that it was caused by KLASCO that was spread across the social networks in the middle of September and the subsequently organised visit of the Minister of Environment Simonas Gentvilas to the company.

V. Muštuk stated that the company refrains from assessing any gossip, nevertheless, when there is a certain response from the politicians, the company cannot keep quiet either.

“From my point of view, there are many fake accounts and so-called trolls on social networks, therefore, I never saw a reason to respond to certain information being spread, nevertheless when the Minister who came for a visit also reacted to the comments, I said – you cannot refrain from any response, because otherwise your stories will be told by everyone who wants to talk, while we will be silent, even though we know we are not doing anything wrong. That is why the open days were organized,” explained V. Muštuk.

After the visit of the Minister of Environment, a mobile laboratory is constantly operating near the territory of KLASCO, measuring whether the loading scope does not exceed the established pollution standards.

The manager of the company believes that the mobile laboratory will not detect any violations, since the company complies with the requirements established under the pollution permits.

“We do not receive that data, but the fact that the station is there does not scare me at all, because I know that during our operation we do everything that depends on us, we comply with the requirements stipulated in the pollution permits. I believe that after some time we will see the data from that laboratory,” summarised the manager of KLASCO.

Various materials are loaded within the territory of the company, loading was not suspended during the open-door events – at least on Sunday, road-sprinkling salt, crushed stone, chips, and other cargo brought from Spain were loaded.

“I am in favour of communication, I have fulfilled all the promises made to the city and the community over the past two years, I come wherever they invite me, because today we have nothing to hide, I am all for frankness and honesty. If people have questions, we provide them with the opportunities to ask them, and we are ready to answer them. But, apparently, not everyone needs it, not everyone wants to delve deep and know how everything works. Maybe it is easier to get angry and pour out the accumulated emotions on social networks,” told V. Muštuk.