Five large enterprises located in the region are responsible for the highest emission of pollutants: CNPC – Aktobemunaigas JSC; Kazakhoil Aktobe LLP; Aktobe Ferroalloy Plant; and a branch of Kazchrome TNC, JSC; Donskoy Ore Mining and Processing Plant; Intergas Central Asia JSC; Aktobe UMG; Aktobe CHP JSC
Stationary sources of air pollution, aggregate - 2017–2019
2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
22 644 | 22 745 | 22 615 |
In 2019, just over 136,000 tons of pollutants were released into the air by enterprises in the region - 20% less than in 2017. The primary air pollutants: carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitric oxide.
Pollutant emissions from stationary sources - 2017–2019
Substance | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
Sulfur dioxide | 26,1 | 28,4 | 24,0 |
Nitric oxides | 13,9 | 14,6 | 15,6 |
Suspended solid particulate | 20,2 | 21,9 | 22,0 |
Carbon monoxide | 47,5 | 42,3 | 38,2 |
Of total emissions in 2018, 16,000 tons were generated by flaring associated gas, in 2019 the amount was ~ 12,000 tons. 97% of emissions from the flaring of associated gas are produced by three companies: CNPC – Aktobemunaigas JSC, Kazakhoil Aktobe LLP, and Aman Munai LLP
In 2018, there were more than 187 thousand vehicles in the region, in 2019 - a little more than 180 thousand.
Regional transport vehicles by fuel type - 2018-2019
Год | Total transport vehicles | Gasoline-powered | Natural gas-powered transport |
2018 | 187 464 | 142 703 | 44 761 |
2019 | 180 330 | 119 528 | 47 053 |
In 2018, 84,000 tons of pollutants entered the region's air from transport, and in 2019 - 81,000 tons.
With a goal of reducing transport-generated hazardous substance emissions, fuel and lubricant quality control standards have been enhanced, roads have been widened and resurfaced, 64 traffic intersections are now monitored by an automated traffic control system, 23% of the all oblast transport has been converted to natural gas fuel, and numbers of EURO-4 certified new cars is increasing.
Every year, trees are planted along roads; in 2019, more than 8,000 seedlings were planted on an area covering 215 hectares in the city of Aktobe.
The regional department of ecology with assistance from oblast police are conducting spot vehicle emissions checks. In 2018, 931 cars were inspected, of which 70 exceeded allowable hazardous substances emission standards. In 2019, 314 cars were inspected of which 64 were in violation of emission standards.
Качество воздуха в области контролируется на шести стационарных постах. В 2018 и 2019 годах уровень загрязнения воздуха был высоким. Превышены среднемесячные концентрации озона в приземном слое атмосферы. В 2019 году произошло 15 случаев сильного загрязнения воздуха — в основном оксидом углерода, диоксидом серы и сероводородом.
In 2019, 35% of all residential areas were gasified – an effort that should reduce hazardous substance emissions. In 2018, the oblast had 6310 km of gas pipeline, the number increasing to 6720 km in 2019.
Discharge of pollutants by enterprises - 2017–2019
2018 | 2019 | |
Volume – wastewater discharge – 1000 m3 | 57 519 | 49 119 |
Volume – pollutant discharge - kt | 15 | 13 |
Сбросы хозяйственно-бытовых сточных вод за 2018–2019 годы
2018 | 2019 | |
Volume – wastewater discharge – 1000 m3 | 17 896 | 17 896 |
Volume – pollutant discharge - kt | 4,6 | 4,6 |
Monitoring of oblast surface water pollution was conducted on 12 bodies of water in 2018 & 2019. A total of 55 incidents of severe pollution were recorded - in 2018 – 40; in 2019 — 15).
Emergency and unauthorized wastewater discharges - 2019
2019 | |
Volume – wastewater discharge – 1000 m3 | 0,04 |
Volume – pollutant discharge - kt | 22,9 |
The total oblast land area in 2018 amounted to over 29,000 hectares; in 2019, ~ 30,000.
Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
Agricultural land | 10 176 | 10 500 | 10 672 |
Residential Land | 3 827 | 3 838 | 3 835 |
Land zoned for industrial and other non-agricultural purposes | 183 | 188 | 193 |
Protected nature preserves | 1 210 | 1 211 | 1 211 |
Forestland | 217 | 217 | 216 |
Surface water lands | 7 | 7 | 13 |
Undesignated Reserve area | 13 644 | 13 316 | 13 445 |
In 2019, 478,000 hectares of land were used by the Russian Federation.
In 2018, regional mining, construction and geological enterprise activities impacted 13,500 hectares of land of which, 1500 hectares were recultivated. In 2019, no recultivation projects were carried out but temporary land usage contracts for 291 plots covering a total area of 595,000 hectares were terminated for unauthorized exploitation.
Regionwide in 2018-2019, 141 organizations were engaged in mining, excavating more than 6,500 thousand tons of raw materials over the two-year period.
Volume of raw materials mined, volume of overburden, and registered mining violations - 2018-2019
Index | 2018 | 2019 |
Mining companies - aggregate | 141 | 141 |
Mining violations on State land | 26 | 21 |
Extracted mineral ores, kt | 3 233 | 3 383 |
Volume of overburden, kt | 29 267 | 29 088 |
35 mammal species and 80 bird species are eligible for commercial hunting. No commercial hunting was conducted in 2018 and 2019.
The region is home to 62 species of mammals and 214 species of birds. Of these, 10 species of animals, 35 species of birds of the region are included in the Republic of Kazakhstan Red List.
The region is home to two Saiga populations - Betpakdalin and Ustyurt. In 2018, nine incidents of poaching, illegal acquisition, storage, sale, import, export, shipment, and transportat of Saiga were recorded. To combat the poaching and illegal harvest of Saiga, a joint-activity plan was developed and finalized between the Irgiz-Turgai State Nature Preserve and the Okhotzooprom Regional LEA.
There are 988,000 hectares of state forestland in the region, 53,000 hectares of land of the region are covered with forest. To increase the volume of forestland and enhance oblast air quality, greenzone reconstruction is occurring on the outskirts of Aktobe.
In 2018, 67 bodies of water, and in 2019, 64 bodies of water were assigned to 47 environmental management concerns. Their work looks to correct harm caused to fisheries. In 2018 and 2019, the Yelek River was stocked with carp fry; over the two-year period, more than 2 million fry were released in local bodies of water.
There are 100 bodies of water for use as fisheries in the region: 13 rivers and tributaries, 48 lakes, 8 reservoirs and 31 ponds. In 2018, 300 tons of fish were harvested, adding 7.5 million Tenge to the State budget; in 2019, 315 tons were caught. The volume of fish harvested was within imposed catch limits.
To combat poaching on fisheries, in 2018, the Oblast Forest & Wildlife Inspectorate conducted 251 raids and 33 inspections resulting in citations issued for 159 violations.
The level of gamma radiation is monitored daily in the oblast at seven meteorological stations and two observation posts. At three weather stations, radioactive contamination of the surface layer of the atmosphere is monitored using five-day air sampling segments with no recorded exceedances - all indicators were within normal ranges.
In 2018, 298,000 tons of household waste were generated in the region and deposited at 14 landfills. In 2019, there were 12 licensed landfills in the oblast, with a slight decrease in waste generated - 295,000 tons.
Industrial waste generation - 2018–2019 (kt)
Year | Total industrial waste | Chemical waste | Mining waste | Petroleum industry waste |
2018 | 55 175 | 54 549 | 446 | 180 |
2019 | 46 700 | 46 170 | 354 | 176 |
In 2019, 11% of all waste was recycled and reutilized in the region; in 2018 - 14.6%.
In 2019, Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary JSC conducted satellite imaging which uncovered 747 illegal landfill sites. A cleanup schedule has been approved and 25 sites have been eliminated, so far.
In 2018, renewable energy technologies were implemented in six projects in the region as well as three renewable energy sourcing projects
Two major renewable energy development projects are being pursued:
— construction by the ENI Group of the first wind power plant valued at
33 billion Tenge, construction began in December 2018;
— commissioning of a wind power plant in the Martuk district
(Zhelenergo LLP) valued at 88 million Tenge with a generating capacity
of 450 kWh was begun in July 2019.
Nature preserves in the area include:
— Irgiz-Turgai State Nature Reserve with an area of 764,000 hectares, home to 42 mammal
species, 250 bird species, 4 species of amphibians, 14 species of reptiles, and 390 species of
plants. Of these, 34 species are on the Red List.
– Turgai State Nature Reserve with an area of 296,000 hectares. In 2018, two new nature reserves were established: Martuk and Kobda. In 2019, the Lake Sanctuary was created with plans to establish, it is planned to create the Oiyl Sanctuar
The region has insufficient cattle burial and disposal areas, 39. The region has no landfill zoned for manure disposal.
Lake Shalkar, a body of water with special ecological, scientific, and cultural significance for the region, is silted-up. To solve the problem, a reconstruction project worth 204.3 million Tenge of the lake's hydraulic structures was carried out. In 2017, a feasibility study "Cleaning the bottom of Lake Shalkar of the Shalkar district" was developed and approved by an independent comprehensive evaluator.
The massif occupies about 500 square kilometers and Kokzhide has enormous underground water reserves. Oil companies conducting explorations in the area including the production of raw hydrocarbon material on the massif have resulted in significant groundwater pollution. To address the issue, the government will survey the Kokzhide aquifer and determine its geological structure, the industrial impact on the subsoil and groundwater, appoint an independent monitor for the massif, and regulate hydrocarbon exploration and production for the Kokzhide Sands massif. In 2019, a three-year feasibility study including design and estimate documentation was developed: "Additional exploration to reassess the exploitable groundwater reserves of the Kokzhide field for prospective use"
Chromium pollution of the Yelek River is a major problem. Several measurements of excessive pollution were registered in 2019, exceeding limits by as much as 10 and 14 times the allowable norms. To address the issue, river water undergoes constant monitoring. In 2012-2013, the "Groundwater purification of the pilot plant No. 3 from pollution with hexavalent chromium in the zone adjacent to the Yelek River" Project was carried out. In 2014-2015, the Geotherm production company cleaned up the experimental site and the project was closed. In order to avoid further chromium contamination additional groundwater treatment of the area is required.
The Yelek River is polluted with boron from boric acid production effluents issuing from a chemical plant in the city of Alga – dumping which went on into 1980. Boron concentrations measured in the river exceed allowable limits by a factor of 40, and this water source in the vicinity of Alga is classified as extremely polluted. In 2017, plant waste was taken under State management, which began the work of waste removal continuing into 2019. 92 wells in the area are also subject to continuous monitoring by the State.
The Yelek River is polluted with wastewater from the Akbulak JSC treatment facilities which have been in operation since 1981 and are in need of repair. Prior to 2018, treated wastewater volume never exceeded 60% of total emissions. The following steps have been taken in the oblast in pursuit of pollution mitigation: the "Modernization of sewage treatment facilities with a capacity of 100 thousand m3 / day" and "Disposal of sewage sludge" projects were developed; three drainage stations were built; work was begun on the "Reconstruction of gravity sewerage for the Zhilgorodok District" project; 85 local industrial wastewater systems and 129 grease traps at food industry facilities were installed.