Kazakhstan: Industrial giants allegedly contribute to poor air quality in Karaganda region & have adverse impact on health of local residents
[Translation prepared by Business & Human Rights Centre]
Can we beat the smog? Air pollution — a path to environmental disaster, 8 February 2025
Every winter, most major cities in Kazakhstan suffer from smog, shrouded in a pungent haze. It's no secret that what we breathe affects our health and well-being. People unwittingly become trapped in this polluted atmosphere. In windless mornings and evenings, it's difficult to breathe, and the throat feels sore. Residents of Karaganda report that older people with respiratory diseases are particularly vulnerable.
There are only three main causes of this phenomenon: industrial plants, private homes with stoves, and cars...
Adverse weather conditions, heavy smog, and dust concentrations in the Karaganda region are being assessed not only by specialists from the relevant ecology department. Civic activists are proposing that automated monitoring data be included in the information received in response to their inquiries.
Who's to blame?
Major polluters in the region include Kazakhmys Corporation LLP, the steel department of Qarmet JSC, the coal department of Qarmet JSC, Central Asia Cement JSC, Orken LLP (Kentobe), Kazmarganets RU (a branch of TNK Kazchrome JSC), TEMK JSC, Karaganda Energocenter LLP (TPP-1, TPP-3), Bapy Mining LLP, Karcement JSC, Kazakhmys Energy LLP (Balkhash TPP), the Topar State District Power Plant, Kazakhmys Smelting LLP (Balkhash Copper Smelter), and a number of smaller production facilities...
As the largest industrial region in the republic, the Karaganda Region faces a number of environmental issues, one of the main ones being air pollution. The main polluted cities in the region, as evidenced by the above figures, are Karaganda, Temirtau, and Balkhash...
In the city of Temirtau, air pollution is associated with the operations of Qarmet JSC. To reduce the negative impact on the environment, the city-forming enterprise has developed a Strategic Action Plan to reduce emissions. Significantly reducing emissions requires the complete gasification of production processes, which will allow for a reduction of emissions to 60,000 tons in the shortest possible time...
In Balkhash, the main cause of air pollution is the operations of Kazakhmys Smelting LLC, the Balkhash Copper Smelter...