ҚазРусEng
KPO Roundtable: Top 50 Companies Delve into Integrated Environmental Permitting in Kazakhstan's Oil and Gas Sector

Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan​,16 April, 2024​ — Karachaganak Petroleum Operating hosted a roundtable gathering major oil and gas companies in the TOP-50 oil and gas sector, alongside representatives from the Committee for Environmental Regulation and Control of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, NEC Atameken, the Kazakhstan Association of Oil, Gas, and Energy Complex Organizations «Kazenergy», the Kazakhstan Association of Regional Environmental Initiatives «EcoJer» as well as leading experts from companies in the oil and gas sector and environmental engineering.

 

The topics of the roundtable were focused on the current challenges and prospects for the implementation of the Integrated Environmental Permitting (IEP) in the oil and gas industry. According to the requirements of the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, from 1 January 2025, enterprises included in the TOP-50 in terms of total emissions of pollutants into the environment are recommended to switch to integrated environmental permits by applying the standards requirements of the Best Available Techniques (BAT).

 

The roundtable discussions covered various aspects of this transition, including technical, economic and organisational aspects. The meeting participants and experts from government agencies shared their experience and opinions on the issues and challenges faced by the industry, and developed proposals to improve legislation and the practice of obtaining integrated environmental permits.

 

Topics discussed at the roundtable included:

 

  • Technical and economic aspects of IEP implementation in the oil and gas industry;
  • Problems and issues related to the Oil and Gas Extraction BAT Handbook;
  • Analysing the process of obtaining IEP and addressing issues that arise;
  • Perspectives and overcoming challenges in obtaining integrated environmental permits in the oil and gas industry.

 

More than 70 experts and representatives of key organisations in the oil and gas industry took part in the event, which underlines its importance and relevance. As a result of the discussion, the Committee for Environmental Regulation and Control of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan proposed the creation of a working group and the development of a roadmap to improve the legislation on obtaining integrated environmental permits.

 

The roundtable was a significant step towards ensuring environmental sustainability and improving the efficiency of Kazakhstan’s oil and gas industry taking in consideration the availability of the technologies and financially reasonable. This event didn’t provide only a platform for sharing experience, but also stimulated the formation of constructive proposals aimed at further development of the oil and gas industry in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 

KPO Public and Media Relations Department