Environmental violations have been identified at the Atyrau Oil Refinery (Atyrau OR), related to the illegal discharge of wastewater and emissions into the atmosphere. The court held LLP «Atyrau OR» administratively liable and imposed a fine of over 520 million tenge.
WHAT THE INSPECTION REVEALED
According to the Department of Ecology of the Atyrau Region, the violations were discovered during an unscheduled inspection of the enterprise LLP «Atyrau OR».
Specialists found a concealed pipeline with a diameter of 500 mm in the evaporation fields. During the inspection, it was established that this was used to discharge industrial wastewater onto open ground.
The total volume of discharged water at two sites exceeded 44 thousand cubic metres, and the area of contamination amounted to approximately three hectares.
EMISSIONS VIOLATIONS
The inspection also revealed violations of atmospheric air protection requirements. In particular, a number of stationary sources lacked calculations and standards for permissible emissions during fuel combustion.
Furthermore, it was established that unscheduled shutdowns of the plant were accompanied by emergency emissions. Approximately 40 thousand cubic metres of fuel gas were released into the atmosphere.
COURT DECISION AND FINES
By a court ruling, LLP «Atyrau OR» was held administratively liable. The total amount of fines imposed was 520,547,007 tenge.
The court decision has not yet entered into legal force.
CONTEXT
Previously, residents of Atyrau complained of an unpleasant odour and visible emissions in the area of the enterprise, but LLP «Atyrau OR» denied its involvement, stating that it was water vapour within normal limits.
Subsequently, violations of environmental and sanitary requirements were confirmed, and the enterprise was held administratively liable. The fine then amounted to 6.9 million tenge, although the plant disagreed with the decision and contested it in court.