MOSCOW, December 23 - RAPSI, Sergei Feklyunin. A court has dismissed Moscow Oil Refinery's petition to invalidate the environmental watchdog's denial of a noxious emissions permit, the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) reports from the court.

The Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources (Rosprirodnadzor) told the court that the Moscow Oil Refinery earlier obtained noxious emissions permits from the Federal Service for Supervision of Environment, Technology and Nuclear Management. However, Rosprirodnadzor, after it was assigned with granting the permits in 2010, prohibited Moscow Oil Refinery from discharging noxious substances as refinery failed to meet emissions reduction plan.

Rosprirodnadzor said on October 28 the refinery is presently banned from discharging pollutants since the previous permit expired in July.

Moscow Oil Refinery's major shareholders are Gazpromneft and the Moscow Oil and Gas Company. The shareholders registered a Dutch-based joint venture Moscow NPZ Holdings B.V in late May 2008 to manage Moscow Oil Refinery. The Moscow Oil and Gas Company is owned by Sibir Energy, with Gazpromneft as major shareholder.