MOSCOW, February 24 - RAPSI. A commercial court of appeals will hear on March 29 Gazpromneft Moscow Refinery 's appeal against upholding the environmental watchdog's refusal to grant permission to emit noxious pollutants, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com).

The Moscow Commercial Court sided with the Federal Service for the Supervision of Natural Resources in its decision not to grant permission to the refinery.

The service refused to grant permission in September, arguing that the refinery failed to execute its obligations to substantially reduce the pollutants in its discharges in 2010-2011 by the expiration date.

The refinery argued in court that the regulations governing granting permission do not provide such grounds for its denial.

According to the service, the refinery failed to stop two sources of pollution near a residential area, while their pollutant content exceeded norms. The hydrogen disulfide found in the discharges obstructs breathing and results in upper respiratory tracts edema.

The refinery annually processes up to 10.5 million tonnes of oil and produces over 2.8 million tonnes of motor fuel and 2.7 million tonnes of diesel fuel.