Pollutant emissions, tons - 2018-2019
2018 | 2019 |
30 050 | 33 480 |
Primary pollutants in the oblast by volume, tons - 2018-2019
2018 | 2019 | |
Sulfur dioxide | 3 000 | 3 000 |
Nitrogen oxides | 2 300 | 3 100 |
Suspended solid particulates | 9 600 | 9 700 |
Carbon monoxide | 8 500 | 8 500 |
Airquality monitoring was carried out in two oblast cities: Turkestan and Kentau.
Residential air pollution levels, Turkestan and Kentau - 2018-2019
City | 2018 | 2019 |
Turkestan | Elevated | Elevated |
Kentau | Elevated | Low |
There were no cases of extremely elevated air pollution in the oblast
Stationary sources of atmospheric emissions in the oblast, aggregate - 2018-2019
2018 | 2019 |
9 886 | 9 910 |
Since January 2020, 48.9% of all residential settlements in the oblast and representing a population of 1,152,672 residents, have access to natural gas
Registered motor vehicles in the oblast, aggregate, by type, thousands of units - 2018-2019
Type | 2018 | 2019 |
Freight transport | 48,9 | 53,4 |
Passenger automobiles | 25,3 | 60,2 |
Total | 74,2 | 133,6 |
Cotton processors, the oil and gas sector, geological exploration and uranium mining enterprises, thermal power and construction comprise the principal sources of air pollution in the oblast
Water quality controls within the oblast were conducted on 8 bodies of water: the Syr Darya, Keles, Badam, Arys, Aksu, Bugun, and Katta Bugun rivers, and the Shardara Reservoir.
Water quality class in water bodies of the region in 2019
Class | Description | |
Bugun River | 1 | Suitable for all types of use. Highest rated. |
Aksu River | 1 | |
Keles River | 4 | Suitable only for irrigation and industrial use. Extensive treatment methods are required for household use and as drinking water. Not recommended for recreation and tourism use. |
Badam River | 4 | |
Arys River | 4 | |
Katta Bugun River | 4 | |
Syr Darya River | 4 | |
Shardara Reservoir | 5 | Suitable only in hydroelectric power generation, mining, and water transport. Not recommended for all other uses. |
Domestic wastewater discharge - 2018–2019
2018 | 2019 | |
Volume – wastewater discharge – 1000 m3 | 17 500 | 17 800 |
Volume – pollutant discharge - kt | 10,2 | 10,4 |
There are 118 small rivers, 25 lakes and 30 reservoirs in the oblast, with the largest river the Syr Darya. The largest oblast reservoirs are the Shardaray, Koksarai, Bogenskoye, Koshkorganskoye
Discharge of pollutants by enterprises - 2018-2019
2018 | 2019 | |
Volume – wastewater discharge – 1000 m3 | 35 795 | 33 000 |
Volume – pollutant discharge - kt | 21,8 | 19,4 |
Emergency and unauthorized wastewater discharges – 2018-2019
2018 | 2019 | |
Volume – wastewater discharge – 1000 m3 | 1 215 | 406 |
Volume – pollutant discharge - kt | 32 | 9,7 |
The total oblast land area amounts to 11.6 million hectares. Distribution of land by category, thousands of hectares - 2018–2019
Category | 2018 | 2019 |
Agricultural land | 4 114,3 | 4 209,6 |
Residential land | 785,6 | 788 |
Land zoned for industrial, transport, communications, defense, and other non-agricultural purposes | 99,7 | 101,7 |
Protected nature preserves | 430,9 | 430,9 |
Forestland | 3 010,3 | 3 010,3 |
Surface water lands | 133,4 | 133,4 |
Undesignated Reserve Land | 3 035,4 | 2 934,4 |
Lands under lease from the Republic of Uzbekistan | 0,9 | 0,9 |
Land seizures for land-use and zoning violations, hectares by category - 2018-2019
Court cases filed | Claims satisfied | |||
Year | Number | Hectares | Number | Hectares |
2018 | 225 | 1 195,2 | 60 | 356,9 |
2019 | 364 | 23 295,7 | 131 | 17 438 |
In the spring and autumn of 2018, Kazhydromet conducted its bi- annual subsoil collection and testing for heavy metal concentrations in the cities of Turkestan and Kentau. Soils tested from Turkestan revealed excesses of zinc and lead; soils from Kentau showed excesses of lead, copper, chromium, zinc and cadmium.
The region is rich in minerals including barite, coal, iron, polymetallic ores, bentonite, vermiculite, talc, limestone, granite, marble, gypsum, and quartz sand. The region ranks first in the volume of uranium mined and third in phosphorite and iron ore extraction in Kazakhstan.
Specially protected natural areas and area, thousands of hectares
Name | Square |
Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve | 121 |
Karatau Nature Reserve | 34 |
Sayram-Ugam National Park | 149 |
Akdaly Botanical Nature Reserve | 2 |
Zadarya Botanical Nature Reserve | 8,4 |
Zhambyl Botanical Nature Reserve | 8,6 |
Boraldai Nature Reserve | 28 |
Timur Botanical Nature Reserve | 4 |
Arys and Karaktau Protected Zones | 404 |
South Kazakhstan Protected Zone | 6 258 |
1700 plant species grow in the oblast of which 122 are included in the Kazakhstan Red List. 68 oblast plant species are found only in the Turkestan Oblast.
Oblast forestland covers more than 3 million hectares, or 36% of the total oblast land area. Saxaul forest comprises the bulk of the forested territory.
Stationary objects, including uranium mining operations, are routinely tested for levels of radioactivity
Samples tested, aggregate - 2018–2019
2018 | 2019 | ||
Samples taken | Tests conducted | Samples taken | Tests conducted |
706 | 2 096 | 1 036 | 2 393 |
There are 16 industrial enterprises and mines engaged in industrial uranium mining in the oblast. All enterprises are subject to inspection; in 2019 nine inspections conducted resulted in fines for violations issued in the amount of 1,628,625 Tenge
In keeping with federal law, dosimetric monitoring is routinely conducted in the oblast at all residential, public, and industrial structures, construction sites, and all other sites and structures open or approved for public and private use.
Dosimetric control data -2018-2019
Sample type | 2018 | 2019 | ||
Exposure dose rate - residential zones | 7 308 | - | 16 797 | 495 |
Exposure dose rate - construction sites | 57 702 | - | 120 602 | - |
Exposure dose rate - residential and public structures | 37 250 | - | 61 035 | 29 |
Radon level in residential and public buildings | 1 916 | - | 1 916 | - |
Atmospheric radon level in workplaces | 190 | - | 562 | - |
Radon flux density in populated areas | 24 | - | 200 | - |
Radon flux density in construction sites | - | - | 654 | - |
Testing of X-Ray facilities | 8 671 | - | 12 918 | - |
Individual dosimetric control of “Group A" personnel (employees in contact with technogenic sources of ionizing radiation) | 132 | - | 1 222 | 1 |
TOTAL | 131 151 | - | 230 219 | 525 |
Monitoring of radioactive gamma contamination of the surface layer of the atmosphere in the oblast was carried out in the oblast; no exceedances were detected.
Generation of household waste in the oblast, tons - 2018-2019
2018 | 2019 |
128 081 | 137 950 |
Percentage of oblast residences with household waste removal service
2018 | 81,2 |
2019 | 91,2 |
2020 (projected) | 95 |
23 enterprises are involved in household waste collection and removal.
Household waste sorting enterprises in the oblast include sorting: Shayakhmet Sarsen; Automelos, LLP; Big Dale, LLP; Sakhova; KazPromVtor LCP; Yntymak-2016, LLP; Darbishev; Service-Arys, LLP; FERRUM-LTD, LLP; and DELTA-MET, LLP.
GREEN Technology Industries, LLP opened a facility for the processing of plastics and PET waste in the industrial zone of Badam in the Ordabasy district. In the city of Turkestan, private proprietor Akmetov produces raw materials for plastic pipes, and proprietor Bulegenov sorts plastic, polyethylene and paper waste, processes them into plastic granules – and semi-raw materials for the manufacture of plastic pipes.
In 2014-2019, four hydroelectric power plants and two solar power plants with a capacity of 29 MW were launched in the region
Name | Power | Launch Year | District |
Ryszhan Hydroelectric Station | 2 MW | 2014 | Saryagash |
Mankent Hydroelectric Station | 2,5 MW | 2017 | Sayramsky |
Dostyk Hydroelectric Station | 1 MW | 2017 | Kazygurt |
Kenes Hydroelectric Station | 2,5 MW | 2019 | Tolebiysky |
Akbai Solar Power Station | 1 MW | 2015 | Sayramsky |
Zhylga Solar Power Station | 20 MW | 2019 | Saryagash |
Five solar power plants with a total capacity of 117 MW are planned for construction in the oblast; consideration is being given for the construction of a wind farm with a capacity of 100 MW in the Baidibek district, near the city of Turkestan.
Air in the oblast is heavily polluted, particularly by vehicle emissions. To address the issue, local akimats pursue gasification projects in residential areas, converting public transportation fleets to natural gas; introduction of alternative sources of electricity and heating.
Water levels at Lake Kyzylkol in the Suzak district have dropped by 7-8 meters in the last 15-20 years. To address the issue, a drainage system at the lake must be constructed and measures developed for sustainable exploitation of the lake. As part of the United Nations Development Program, grant programs are being considered to finance lake restoration measures.
In 2020, 30.7% of oblast urban residences and 9.2% of rural residences were connected to centralized sewage systems. To address the issue, sewage treatment plants and sewage systems are planned for the cities of Arys, Saryagash, Lenger, Abai, Temirlan, Kazygurt, , and Chulakkurgan Myrzakent.