Violators of environmental emission limits within industrial industries will face fines increased tenfold
Kazakhstan's New Environmental Code: Strengthening Protections and Promoting Green Economy
Kazakhstan has introduced a new Environmental Code, effective from July 28, 2025, which aims to strengthen environmental protection and promote sustainable development with a green economy approach. The Code focuses on regulating human interaction with nature, preventing and eliminating environmental damage, and ensuring a coordinated public administration system for environmental protection.
One of the key aspects of the Code is the increased fines for industrial enterprises that exceed emissions. While the specific fine amounts are not detailed in the available information, the Code emphasizes strict state regulation aimed at preventing pollution and environmental damage, implying stricter liability and penalties.
The Code also promotes the adoption of NDT (Best Available Techniques) as part of its broader approach to reducing negative anthropogenic impact. This means that activities causing environmental pollution are only allowed if all necessary preventive measures are taken at the source of impact.
In addition, Kazakhstan’s government has recently pursued large-scale modernization projects for the water sector and energy infrastructure, including upgrades to existing thermal power plants like TEC-2 and TEC-3, to improve environmental outcomes and efficiency. These efforts are generally aligned with the Code’s environmental goals.
The transition to NDT is aimed at improving the environment and reducing pollution. Enterprises in the oil and gas, mining-metallurgical, chemical, and energy sectors, accounting for 80% of pollution, are transitioning to NDT 50 under the new regulations. Enterprises that adopt advanced technologies will be exempted from emission fees during a transition period.
City greening is a part of the revised Environmental Code’s plans, with public transport in the city being converted to natural gas. The modernization of TEC-2 and 3, if completed, can reduce emissions by 83%.
Zulfukhar Zholdasov, the head of the Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology, and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, stated that enterprises have two options: either voluntarily adopt NDT or face an eightfold increase in taxes over ten years. The chairman of the board of JSC "Almaty Electric Stations," Nurlan Mukhammed-Rakhymov, also stated that a contract for TЭO development will be signed for TEC-3.
The principal of "polluter pays and remedies" will be implemented to improve the environment. The full transition of TEC-2 and 3 to gas is planned by 2025. Private houses will be gasified as part of the plans. The Environmental Code will impose fines ten times higher on industrial enterprises for exceeding emissions. The revised Environmental Code also includes plans for wind regime research.
In summary, the new Environmental Code sets a framework for high environmental standards, prevention, and correction of environmental damage, and promotes green economy transition. It implies harsher penalties for industrial pollution violations but does not specify exact fine increases in the publicly available text. The Code promotes the adoption of NDT by requiring activities to implement all preventive measures at emission sources. Recent government modernization initiatives reflect a push for cleaner, more efficient infrastructure aligned with the Code’s environmental objectives.
- The new Environmental Code in Kazakhstan, effective from July 28, 2025, encourages the adoption of NDT (Best Available Techniques) to reduce negative anthropogenic impact, particularly in sectors like oil and gas, mining-metallurgical, chemical, and energy, which account for 80% of pollution.
- The transition to NDT is associated with several benefits, including exemption from emission fees for enterprises during a transition period and potential improvements in the environment and reduction of pollution.
- The Code, in alignment with Kazakhstan's government's recent modernization projects, aims to upgrade energy infrastructure, such as TEC-2 and TEC-3, to improve environmental outcomes and efficiency, with TEC-2 and 3's full transition to gas planned by 2025.
