The OKTA refinery near Skopje is a curse for the people who live near it. The water supply and the air they breathe are contaminated by the plant. The Macedonian government is trying to calm the situation, while the Greek owners of the refinery continue to ignore the protests.OKTA is a subsidiary of the Greek oil concern Hellenic Petroleum. The Greeks were contractually obliged to invest in new filtration plants back in 2003. These were not actually installed until May 2009. But people living near the refinery continue to complain about the powerful stench of sulfur in the air, and water contaminated with oil. Doctors report an increase in the number of people, primarily children, affected by allergies and asthmatic disorders. The Macedonian government, knowing that it negotiated a poor deal when it sold the refinery, has been trying the play down the protests. If the government does insist on the installment of high-grade environmental technology, such as that stipulated by the EU, then Macedonia will have to cover any expenses incurred by OKTA.
