BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 4. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology can suspend the activities of ArcelorMittal Temirtau JSC mining company in case of non-compliance with environmental requirements, the Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Regulation and Control Zulfukhar Zholdasov said on the sidelines of a meeting with residents of Astana, Trend reports on November 4 via the Kazakh media.
“We have now completed the inspection and identified problems with waste, treatment facilities, emissions, and with the implementation of environmental measures. Now we are preparing a big fine. Moreover, the enterprise created certain impediments in access to the inspection,” Zholdasov noted.
According to him, the company's activities may be suspended in case of non-compliance with environmental requirements.
“Besides, we are conducting a campaign on the issuance of permits – last year we reduced limited volumes [of the emissions] by more than 100,000, which is over 30 percent [of the total volume]. This year, the company must reduce emissions from 250,000 to 210,000. Otherwise, we won’t issue a permit until the suspension of production,” the official emphasized.
“Until 2025, the company undertakes to reduce emissions by 30 percent. We are now making calculations to prepare a fine for nearly several billion of tenge. The key aim is to make the company reduce emissions now,” added Zholdasov.