Kazakh Senate ratifies protocol on protection of Caspian marine environment

To prevent pollution of the Caspian Sea, rationally use local natural resources and conserve biodiversity - members of the Senate of the Kazakh Parliament approved a document aimed at protecting this body of water. Given that the presence of large hydrocarbon reserves in the sea makes the environmental problem urgent. Serikkali Brekeshev, Kazakh Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources, said that the contractual basis for cooperation in this area will be expanded and a number of protocols have already been signed. He also said that the document defines the types of activities to be regulated by the protocol. These include oil refineries, thermal power plants and other incinerators with a capacity of 300 megawatts or more, nuclear power plants, as well as construction, reconstruction or expansion of highways, and so on. To that end, the new Environmental Code, which entered into force in July of this year, contains paragraphs on the regulation of transboundary environmental impact.

“The Caspian Sea is of strategic importance for our country. Therefore, the careful attitude towards it is always in the spotlight. We hope that the adopted law will work to prevent pollution of the sea and coast, preserve biological diversity and rational use of natural resources,” said Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairperson of the Senate of Kazakh Parliament.

Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova

Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova