Press Releases

Public hearings on the project “Environmental impact assessment for construction of the North-Caspian Oil Spills Response Environmental Base (NCERB)” held in Atyrau

Source: JSC NC “KazMunayGaz”

Public hearings on the project “Environmental impact assessment for construction of the North-Caspian Oil Spills Response Environmental Base (NCERB)” were held in Atyrau on 15 March 2011.

Representatives of the akimats of the city of Atyrau and Atyrau oblast, governmental authorities of the city and oblast, oil and gas companies, non-governmental organizations, research institutes and other stakeholders took part in the public hearings.

Within the framework of the public hearings, representatives of LLP “TenizService” (KMG NC’s subsidiary), LLP “KazNIGRI”, Caspimunaigas SRDI JSC, RSE “IAC OOS”, ANPK "Biotsenoz” delivered their reports.

As noted, the purpose of construction and further operation of the NCERB is urgent response to oil spills in commercial development and operation of the Kashagan field and other oil and gas fields in the northern part of the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea, performing environmental and meteorological monitoring, rehabilitation of the wildlife, and protection of the particularly sensitive reed area of the Northern Caspian, estuary of the river Ural and ensuring environmental safety of the Caspian Sea and the environment as a whole.

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The environmental impact assessment project has been developed by RSE “Information and Analysis Center for Environmental Protection” of the RoK MEP (Ministry for Environmental Protection), having a statutory license to perform works for environmental design and environmental expert appraisal in the sphere of environmental protection.

Deputy General Director of RSE “IAC OOC” Olzhas Syzdykov noted that the EIA project complies with the environmental legislation existing in the Republic of Kazakhstan, incl. the requirements of the Environmental Code.

The area of the land allocation for the NCERB construction is 44.5 ha. This plot is located on an arm on the left bank of the river Ural, 3.6 km to the south of the township of Damba in the Atyrau oblast and is outside the water protection area of the river Ural (at a distance of over 1000 m) and the natural reserve Akzhaiyk.

For the purpose of the EIA project, analysis of the impact of the NCERB construction on the air, surface and ground water, vegetative ground cover, subsoil, flora and fauna, has been performed, and measures for environmental protection, protection of atmospheric air, surface and ground water are envisaged.

Having regard to the location of the planned base on the territory of the preserved area, measures for environmental protection will be comprehensive and ensuring maximum conservation of all environmental components.

Is was also noted that the construction of the NCERB base may exert beneficial influence on the region’s social sphere, by means of design solutions envisaging capital repair of the area adjacent to the Atyrau-Peshnoy motor road, increasing additional generating capacity, installation of an additional gas pipeline. In the process of construction and operation, engagement of the operating personnel from among the residents of the township of Damba of the Atyrau oblast for various types of works is possible.

In conclusion, the participants of the public hearings noted that fulfilling all requirements of the project in the sphere of environmental protection, the complex of laws and environmental standards, and recommendations made will make it possible to minimize the adverse effects related to the implementation of the project to the full, ensuring the environmental safety of this region.