Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov stated that the Prosecutor General's Office will inspect Kazzinc LLP for compliance with environmental legislation.
According to Vlast.kz, the inspection will be carried out due to the unfavourable environmental situation in Ust-Kamenogorsk, which was observed from 23 November to 1 December 2024.
The head of government noted that the East Kazakhstan Region roadmap for 2024–2026 provides for a number of environmental protection measures that could reduce harmful emissions in the region by 10-20%.
One such measure is the modernisation of sulphur gas after-treatment units at the Kazzinc LLP metallurgical complex in Ust-Kamenogorsk.
"By 2026, the modernisation should reduce sulphur dioxide emissions by 2.2 thousand tonnes. It should also ensure that the enterprise's operations comply with the indicators of the national project 'Zhasyl Kazakhstan'," the statement said.
Furthermore, to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions at the Ridder metallurgical complex, Kazzinc LLP plans to build a workshop called 'Gidropolimet'.
As a reminder, at the end of November, residents of Ust-Kamenogorsk complained of health problems due to air pollution. People wrote that they felt severely unwell. Online, they posted photos and videos showing the city shrouded in smog. The situation was exacerbated by windless weather, which persisted in the city for about a week.
At that time, due to the poor air quality, schoolchildren were switched to distance learning, and residents were advised to spend less time outdoors and use protective masks.