The Caspian Sea will not be affected

More recently, an article was published in social networks "Ministries do not care about nature", in which environmentalists talk about the deepening of the Caspian Sea for the sake of oil production. In this article, ecocommunists claim that the deepening of the bottom of the Caspian Sea by the oil-producing company North Caspian Operating Company N. V. (hereinafter referred to as NCOC N. V.) will allegedly have an extremely negative impact on marine flora and fauna and even lead to an environmental disaster. Such concerns of a number of members of the public are understandable, but not all so categorically and unambiguously. And this issue requires a competent, professional and balanced approach.
On September 21, 2020, the Akimat of Atyrau region, in accordance with the requirements of environmental legislation, organized public hearings in an unlimited mode on the Project "Environmental Impact Assessment" to the "Kashagan Field Development Project. Marine complex. Sea shipping channels". The project was widely discussed with the direct participation of the environmental community.
These hearings were organized by the head of the non-governmental organization "Zhaiyk-Caspian Aarhus Center" Shynar Izteleuova (hereinafter referred to as the LC OC) and were chaired by the director of this organization. The event was attended by more than 120 people, including the director of the NGO "Atameken Eco" Arman Khairullin. All the suggestions made were taken into account, and the comments made to the draft were recorded.
Already in November 2020, this project was submitted to the Department of Ecology of the Atyrau region for a comprehensive non-departmental examination.
It is important to note that at the end of last year, the Department of the NCOC N. V. project held an expert council, following which a number of comments were sent for resolution. After their elimination, in February 2021, the Department re-received the above-mentioned project and on March 25, 2021, a positive conclusion of the state environmental expertise was issued simultaneously with the permit for emission into the environment.
On December 21, 2020, the Department of Ecology convened an expert council during the environmental assessment, which included independent experts and environmental public organizations. All comments and suggestions were discussed at this council, namely: questions on fish stocks, wildlife and flora, alternative options for dredging and moving the soil, water protection zones and, most importantly, safety issues of this project.
After eliminating all the comments and making suggestions for preserving and minimizing the impact on the environment, a positive conclusion was issued.
It is important to emphasize that the area of the sea under discussion, allocated for the construction of a sea channel, is located outside the nesting areas of birds and spawning of sturgeon fish according to the background monitoring and impact monitoring reports.
As for the inevitable damage to fish resources during the construction of the canal, it is documented that during the planned works, the project provides for the maximum set of environmental measures to preserve the marine ecosystem and reduce the impact on the environment.
The sea channels will be located 17 kilometers from the water protection zone, and the chosen option for the placement and construction of the sea channel, as well as the turning basins, is the safest and most environmentally friendly option among the other alternative proposals considered.
The need to implement the above-mentioned project is due to the predicted fluctuations in sea level. Therefore, it is necessary to build approach channels to ensure the access of ships to the islands, with the mandatory provision of escape routes in case of emergencies.
The Company assumes full responsibility for the compensation of unavoidable damage calculated according to the"Method of calculating the amount of compensatory damage caused and inflicted on fish resources and other aquatic animals, including unavoidable as a result of economic activity".
This is confirmed by the attached expert opinions of the LLP "SPC of Fisheries", as well as the specialist-ichthyologist in the field of fisheries to the project " Arrangement of objects of the Kashagan field. Marine complex. Sea shipping channels".
Dredging works will be carried out in accordance with the technical task and all necessary measures will be taken to reduce the formation of increased turbidity in the process of dredging and creating dumps of soil. For this purpose, the use of immersion diffusers using the “cooking pot " technology is provided.
As a result, this project was agreed with the relevant competent authorities by letters of several Committees, including: the Committee on Water Resources, on Land Management of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as the Committee on Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic. NCOC N. V., in turn, committed to take all necessary measures for the safe conduct of all work within the agreed time frame of the project, which will be under the constant control of the competent authorities.