Source: Committee for Environmental Regulation and Control of the Republic of Kazakhstan (In Russian)
On December 7, 2022, a briefing was held by the Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Regulation and Control, Zholdasov Z.S. on the topic: “Environmental control over the activities of large manufacturing companies that have the greatest impact on the environment.”
According to the results of environmental monitoring, out of 45 industrial cities and megacities, 9 cities relate to a high level of air pollution. These are the cities of Astana, Almaty, Karaganda, Temirtau, Atyrau, Aktobe, Balkhash, Ust-Kamenogorsk and Shymkent.
Zulfukhar Sansyzbayevich noted that an audit of the country’s largest enterprises was carried out: North Caspian Operating Company N.V. (NCOC), Atyrau Oil Refinery LLP, ArcelorMitall Temirtau JSC, Kazzinc, Aktobe Munay Gas SNPS, ERG group of companies.
In particular, in the context of enterprises, the environmental situation is as follows:
ArcelorMittal Temirtau
Every year, AMT is subject to environmental control about 10 times. In just 9 months of 2022, the territorial department of ecology carried out 7 unscheduled inspections in relation to the company.
The results of the audit revealed violations of the requirements of environmental legislation, such as excessive emissions of inorganic dust, failure to comply with previously issued regulations, inefficient work on capturing exhaust gases, as well as treatment facilities.
As a response, a fine totaling 5.8 billion tenge was imposed.
Currently, the Department is inspecting the Para-Power Shop of ArcelorMittal Temirtau JSC (the inspection has not been completed). In addition, lawsuits were filed on the suspension of activities for the operation of a landfill for industrial and domestic waste, installations of the “Grokhot” type, tailings No. 2 and No. 3 of an ash and sludge collector, and a mobile crushing and screening complex.
Atyrau Oil Refinery
The enterprise received an environmental permit for emissions into the environment for 2023, taking into account the reduction in emission standards by 5.6% (from 19.5 thousand tons to 18.4 thousand tons).
According to the national project “Zhasyl Kazakhstan” by 2025, the enterprise has committed itself to reduce emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere up to 25%, and reach the figure of 15 thousand tons.
The Department of Ecology for the Atyrau region over the past three years conducted 11 inspections of the company, of which 4 were carried out only in the current year.
The main violations identified during the control are exceeding the established MPE standards and the implementation of emissions into the environment without an environmental permit as a result of gas flaring. Based on the results of inspections this year, the company was fined for a total amount of more than 40 million tenge.
NCOC
The Department of Ecology for the Atyrau region over the past three years has conducted 8 inspections of the company, of which 2 have not yet been completed. The results of the completed inspections revealed such violations as exceeding the MPD standards for pollutants in wastewater, the presence of hydrogen sulfide in wastewater.
In 2020, the company was fined 1.9 million tenge for violating environmental legislation.
The protocol on an administrative offense drawn up in 2021 is being considered by the court in connection with the company’s appeal against the order to eliminate violations.
This year, two inspections have been opened in relation to the company, which are in production.
Kazzinc
Kazzinc is a large Kazakhstan metallurgical complex, which includes the following companies: Ust-Kamenogorsk metallurgical complex, Ridder mining and processing complex, Ridder metallurgical complex, Altai mining and processing complex.
In 2022, unscheduled inspections were carried out by the Department of Ecology for the East Kazakhstan region in relation to all four complexes of the company.
The results of the checks revealed:
– deviation from the design decisions of the conclusions of the state environmental expertise
– violation of the rules for the operation of treatment facilities
– exceeding the standards for discharges in wastewater
– transfer of waste for disposal to a company that is not a specialized organization.
Orders were issued to eliminate the identified violations and a fine was imposed for a total amount of more than 10 million tenge.
According to the national project Zhasyl Kazakhstan, Ust-Kamenogorsk Metallurgical Complex Kazzinc LLP assumed obligations to reduce emissions by 20%, within the framework of which a strategy was developed to reduce emissions into the atmosphere with the retrofitting of existing plants with additional purification stages.
SNPS-Aktobemunaigas
In 2022, the enterprise was subject to state environmental control 8 times. As a result of the checks, a violation was revealed in terms of excess emissions and pollution of the adjacent territory.
The company was held liable with a fine of more than 39 million tenge.
In addition, an administrative case was initiated against the company on the fact of producing excess emissions into the environment as a result of technological losses of oil and gas and a fine of 81 million tenge was imposed.
In addition, SNPS-Aktobemunaigas JSC has 26 wells at the unique Kokzhide groundwater field. Currently, the issue of suspension of their activities and complete withdrawal from the territory of the field is being worked out.
A schedule is being developed to phase out the activities of subsoil users within the boundaries of Kokzhide groundwater.
ERG Groups of Companies
consists of:
Aluminum of Kazakhstan JSC, Kazakhstan Electrolysis Plant JSC, Aksu Ferroalloy Plant-branch of TNC Kazchrome JSC, Aktobe Ferroalloy Plant-branch of TNC Kazchrome JSC, Eurasian Energy Corporation JSC.
For two years, 9 verification activities were carried out in relation to ERG companies.
As a result of the inspections, emissions of hexavalent chromium without an environmental permit, excess of pollutants in exhaust gases, inorganic dust, mixing of hazardous waste, provision of false information in reports on industrial environmental control, etc. were revealed.
As a result of inspections, fines totaling 6.1 million tenge were imposed on companies, orders were issued to eliminate violations and administrative protocols were drawn up, which were sent to the court for consideration.
Until the end of this year, it is planned to carry out professional control in relation to Aluminum of Kazakhstan JSC.
