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Air protection

The Company follows the principle of zero tolerance for losses and damages associated with environmental pollution and operates under national environmental legislation and best international practices.

Emission management policy

In 2019, KMG approved the Emissions Management Policy, which consists of eight key principles:

  1. Operating in strict compliance with the law and other Company commitments
  2. Following the established pollutant emission standards and emission limits, greenhouse gas quotas
  3. Clearly allocated functions and duties, increased competence, training, and awareness
  4. Regular recording, inventory checks, and monitoring of emissions
  5. Ending regular flaring of raw gas during hydrocarbon production operations
  6. Activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint
  7. Management of carbon assets
  8. Continuous improvement of emissions management activities
Pollutants emissions

One of the key areas for minimizing the impact on the environment is the reduction of emissions of pollutants into the atmospheric air. The following activities are being carried out:

  • Phased replacement of obsolete burners in oil heating furnaces;
  • Integrated gas treatment and processing facilities are under construction;
  • Work is underway to install pontoons for vertical oil tanks to prevent the evaporation of hydrocarbons.
  • Installation of catalytic converters for pollutant emissions on oil heating furnaces, etc. is being carried out.

In accordance with Article 418 (16) of the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, from 1 January 2023, the requirement for a mandatory automated emission monitoring system (hereinafter referred to as AMS) applies. “The real-time AMS monitors nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide in waste gases and measures flow rate, temperature, pressure and relative humidity.” Two oil and gas SDEs were the first among the Group’s companies to launch AMS. For example, the integrated AMS equipment was installed at the gas turbine power plant (GTPP) of the Kalamkasmunaigas Production Department and was successfully tested. Commissioning of such unique systems is not only an important step in the modernization of plants, but also increases environmental efficiency and transparency.

The permitted volume of air pollutant emissions for KMG Group was 120.6 thousand tons in 2022 (110.2 thousand tons in 2021).

KMG Group Operators are responsible under the new Environmental Code for emissions from contractors which are technologically directly related to the operations of the facility Operator and which work on their premises. Emission data from contractors has been accounted for in the unified environmental permit and included in the Operators’ reporting, therefore there is an 8.6% increase in air pollutant emissions compared to 2021.

Gross emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere in the KMG Group, thousand tons
2020 2021* 2022
Air pollutant emissions, total, including: 247,2 110,2 120,6
NOx emissions 17,6 12,7 16
SOx emissions 12,7 12,2 10,5

other pollutant emissions

216,9 85,3 94,1

* Note: From 2021 onwards, data exclude KTG


Specific emissions of pollutants in the KMG Group
2020 2021* 2022
HC production, t/1,000 toe of HCs produced 1,9
1,9 2,1
Oil refining, t/1,000 t of oil refined 2,9 2,8 3,1
Oil transportation, t/1,000 t of oil transported
0,5 0,5
0,5

* Note: From 2021 onwards, data exclude KTG.

In 2021, the average ratio of NOx emissions to the total volume of produced raw hydrocarbons in oil equivalent for the KMG Group amounted to 0.24 tons per thousand tons of produced CHC, while the IOGP average was 0.4. Compared to 2020, the specific emissions of NOx grew by 9% which is associated with the addition of new emission sources.

The average ratio of SOx emissions to the total volume of produced raw hydrocarbons in oil equivalent for the KMG Group amounted to 0.22 tons per thousand tons of produced CHC, while the IOGP average was 0.19. Compared to 2020, a 4% reduction in the specific emissions of SОx is registered.

Modernization of oil refineries

Sulfur production facilities were commissioned in all plants. In these facilities, hydrogen sulfide gas undergoes regeneration, while simultaneously obtaining an important production product – marketable sulfur. After the modernization, refineries produce more environmentally friendly products of European quality standards - class K4 fuel, following the requirements of the technical regulations of the Customs Union. The sulfur content in gasoline K4 is 10 times less than in the fuel produced before the modernization of the plant. This affects the reduction of pollutants in the exhaust gases of road transport and the improvement of air quality in populated areas.

Sustainable use of raw gas

Through our crude gas development and processing programs, we have increased the use of gas for heat and power generation, resulting in lower emissions of harmful substances and greenhouse gases from the combustion and emission of crude gas.
In 2022, crude gas utilization was 98.8%. Flaring of raw gas decreased by 89% compared to 2017 (2017 volume: 315.8 million m3 ). The gas flaring rate is 1.5 tons per thousand tons of hydrocarbon production (2021: 2.1, 2020: 2.2), which is 29% below the 2021 figure and 84% below the IOGP industry average.

Crude gas flaring volume
Indicator 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total crude gas flaring volume, million m3 315,8 148,9 80,2 57,6 52,5 35,7
Crude gas utilization rate, % 85 93 97 98 98 98,8
Crude gas flaring rate, t/1,000 t of hydrocarbon production 11 6 2,95 2,2 2,1 1,5

In 2015, KMG supported the World Bank’s initiative of Zero Routine Flaring by 2030. The Company aims to minimize the flaring of raw gas. Raw gas flaring under this initiative is reported on an annual basis to the representative office of the World Bank in the Republic of Kazakhstan.