Greenpeace Calls Out INA Over leaving Waste in the Adriatic!

The legendary Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise has docked in Pula as part of its major European tour focused on fossil gas. On this occasion, activists visited the site of the sunken INA gas platform Ivana D, displaying the message: “Bulk Waste in the Adriatic Sea”, once again calling INA and its Hungarian co-owner MOL to account. Five years after the accident, INA continues to systematically ignore orders from the State Inspectorate. With the government’s blessing, INA continues to invest in new drilling sites- at the expense of the climate and environment - while saving millions of euros by avoiding the cost of removing its waste from the sea.Greenpeace is inviting the public to tour the ship this week with guided visits, where visitors can learn more about the campaign and sign a petition and an open letter.

It’s been exactly one year since the responsible ministry announced a public consultation on the Environmental Impact Study for the decommissioning of the Ivana D platform - but no updates have followed. Activists warn that this delay benefits INA and its Hungarian co-owner MOL, and risks the issue being forgotten. INA has also ignored the 2021 ruling from the State Inspectorate ordering the platform’s removal within a year.

“Even five years after their platform sank, INA still doesn’t see a problem with hundreds of tons of its waste lying at the bottom of the Adriatic. What’s especially concerning is the spin that the platform will now serve as an ‘artificial reef,’ which sets a dangerous precedent for how remaining platforms might be ‘disposed of.’ Sure, any waste in the sea might eventually attract marine life. But that doesn’t mean we should dump trash into the ocean. We see this as an excuse, not a legitimate reason. Removing sunken platforms can cost tens of millions of euros. Promoting an ‘artificial reef’ on social media is certainly much cheaper,” said Petra Andrić, Greenpeace Croatia campaign lead. “How would an average citizen be treated for dumping bulky waste into the sea and ignoring an official government order to remove it? Is the Ivana D case the model for how INA’s other twenty-something platforms in the Adriatic will be ‘decommissioned’ once their time is up?” added Andrić.

“It’s time for Croatia and Europe to stop funding outdated fossil fuel infrastructure and invest in solar energy, wind farms, energy storage, and efficiency. Every delay deepens the dependency spiral, making it harder and costlier to escape. The future belongs to clean, fair energy—and that future starts now, with the decision to leave fossil gas behind for good,” said Andrić.

The iconic Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise arrived yesterday in the Port of Pula as part of the campaign against fossil gas. It will be moored at Riječka Pier in Pula and open to the public for free tours from June 30 to July 2. Visitors will have a unique chance to explore the ship’s rich history and hidden corners. Arctic Sunrise has been at the heart of many of Greenpeace’s legendary campaigns, from the polar regions to the Amazon.