According to experts, this is especially important during a special military operation, when oil depots and refineries in border zones may be attacked from the airMOSCOW, October 31.
/tass/. The Government of the Russian Federation has instructed the Ministry of Energy to work out the issue of restricting drone flights over the most significant objects of the fuel and energy complex (fuel and energy complex) by November 1, according to a letter dated October 14, which State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Energy Anastasia Bondarenko sent to energy companies. The Izvestia newspaper writes about this on Monday with reference to the letter.
The Ministry of Energy explained to the newspaper that this measure is aimed at limiting the actions of unauthorized persons in the airspace over significant fuel and energy facilities. "The activation of the processes of establishing flight restriction zones <...> now seems to be a critically important measure aimed at ensuring energy security," they said. The ministry also noted that if flight restriction zones are established, the unauthorized presence of a drone over the fuel and energy complex facility will allow it to be considered a threat and will give grounds to eliminate the drone.
Since 2017, flight restriction zones have already been installed over some fuel and energy facilities. Now the energy companies themselves initiate this process through the Federal Air Transport Agency, the Ministry of Energy clarified. Only law enforcement agencies have the right to use means of countering drones (manual and stationary jammers). The issue of granting such powers to organizations that ensure the protection of fuel and energy facilities is being worked out, and the Ministry of Energy participates in this work. The ministry clarified that, in accordance with the legislation, the establishment of a flight restriction zone does not entail a ban on the use of airspace by enterprises themselves. Outsiders will need to get permission.
The newspaper sent requests to the Federal Air Transport Agency and the State Corporation for the Organization of Air Traffic.
The creation of a no-fly zone over energy facilities is especially relevant during a special military operation, when oil depots and refineries in border zones may be attacked from the air, according to the deputy chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Reliable Partner Association (association of producers and sellers of energy resources) Dmitry Gusev. Even if the drone is not aimed at undermining the power facility, it can collect information for intruders. Uncoordinated drone flights pose a danger even if they are controlled by ordinary curious citizens, because a fallen device can provoke a fire, he told the publication. Another newspaper source in a large company confirmed that accidental or planned incidents involving drones can lead to interruptions in the work of power supply companies.
The company "T plus" supported the innovation, noting that the proposed measure will protect strategically important assets. "In the current situation, the creation of closed zones in the airspace will ensure the necessary safety of the stations," T Plus told Izvestia.
