An unscheduled inspection of the Atyrau Oil Refinery (ANPZ) revealed violations of environmental requirements, including exceedances of industrial emission standards and emergency gas releases. The materials of the administrative offence cases were sent to court.
WHAT THE INSPECTION REVEALED
According to the press service of the Ministry of Ecology, the inspection of LLP "Atyrau Oil Refinery" was carried out by the Department of Ecology for the Atyrau Region following numerous complaints from residents regarding air quality.
The inspection showed that for a number of production units and tanks at the plant, the volume of emissions into the atmosphere had not been calculated and permissible emission standards had not been established. This concerns, in particular, certain furnaces of the ELOU-AT-2 and ELOU-AVT-3 units, as well as tanks of the delayed coking unit.
On 25 August, as well as during the period from 2 to 7 September 2026, due to emergency situations at the combined sulphur production unit and the catalytic cracking unit, emergency gas releases to the flare system occurred.
The total mass of gas flared during these periods amounted to more than 100 tonnes. The inspection also recorded unscheduled shutdowns and repair work.
WHERE EMISSION EXCEEDANCES WERE RECORDED
Instrumental monitoring of industrial emissions revealed exceedances of established standards for carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide at individual sources of several production facilities.
Exceedances of permissible emissions were recorded at several production facilities of the plant. These include the CCR catalytic reforming unit with a benzene extraction block, the production of thermal and electrical energy, as well as the light naphtha isomerisation unit KUGBD-2.
In addition, violations were identified at the plant in the operation of the automatic system that monitors emissions into the atmosphere. The inspection also showed that the enterprise did not comply with the measures provided for reducing emissions during periods of unfavourable weather conditions.
WHERE THE MATERIALS WERE SENT
According to Article 759 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Prosecutor"), decisions to initiate administrative offence cases in respect of investors included in the register of investors are subject to approval by the prosecutor.
On 1 October 2026, such decisions were approved by the prosecutor. The case materials were sent to court for consideration and decision.
The inspection materials were also forwarded to law enforcement bodies to establish whether there are signs of a criminal offence and to take an appropriate procedural decision.
CONTEXT
In January 2026, residents of Atyrau also complained about the smell and smoke in the area of the enterprise. ANPZ stated that the visible clouds above the plant were water vapour, and its own measurements did not reveal exceedances. At the same time, the department of ecology reported an exceedance of hydrogen sulphide concentration in residential areas.
In February it became known that LLP "Atyrau Oil Refinery" had been held administratively liable for sanitary violations. The reason was also issues related to air quality in Atyrau and complaints from residents. The enterprise disagreed with the decision and appealed it in court.
In April it was reported that another inspection of ANPZ had taken place, following which the court imposed a fine on the enterprise in the amount of KZT 520.5 million for violations of environmental requirements.
In September, residents of Atyrau again complained about a thick haze and a sharp unpleasant smell, which is especially noticeable at night and in the early morning. Laboratory tests confirmed an exceedance of the content of certain pollutants in the air, and the authorities began checking possible sources of pollution.
