URALSK, West Kazakhstan Oblast, 02 June 2023 — The traditional VI Uralsk Green Forum was held in Uralsk. This year, the participants of the event discussed the topic «New trends in integration of ESG principles and sustainable development».

It should be noted that the aim of the forum was to review the feasibility of applying ESG principles for sustainable development of the regions, the feasibility of potential development of the carbon offset projects in the region and the analysis of the opportunities for improvement of waste management methods and BAT application in practice.

The representatives of the RoK Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the RoK Ministry of Energy, the West-Kazakhstan Oblast Akimat, deputies of Majilis, the representatives of subsurface user companies of the public and private sector, industry and specialized associations, agencies, experts, republican and regional media participated in the forum.

Nariman Turegaliyev, Akim of the West-Kazakhstan Oblast, named the environmental measures being implemented in the region.

«Since 2019, the volume of water delivered to the southern and western districts of the region from the neighbouring Russia has increased. Meanwhile, the reconstruction of the 178-kilometre Kirovo-Chizhin channel which is „fed“ by local water ponds, has been completed. We need an efficient management and the use of water resources through the introduction of new technologies. Work is ongoing to switch to the use of groundwater. Subsurface user companies have to intensify the introduction of water saving technologies. And as part of the national project „Green Kazakhstan“, we plan to increase the share of solid waste recycling in our region from 15% to 18%. There are all prerequisites for achieving carbon neutrality and developing solid waste management projects,» said the head of the region.

Giancarlo Ruiu, KPO General Director noted the importance of this forum and the benefits of such dialogue platforms.

«This forum creates a dialogue platform for the large corporations, such as KPO, the state authorities, the WKO Akimat, small and medium-sized businesses and citizens to discuss plans, ideas and development of our business in the context of the transition to a „green“ energy. I would like to say that today we have brought all parties together and this is the only way to achieve the positive dynamics. It should also be noted that transition to a „green“ energy in general, cannot be addressed separately from business development, and it is a serious challenge that we are trying to resolve since we need to develop in the country and in the region. We need to ensure stable work, prosperity and at the same time, we have to conduct business as part of the „green“ concept. We have a large production facility and a significant presence in the region. 4000 people work in the company and our business development is expanding, so it is important for us to be leaders and we are among those promoting discussions on how business can be more environmentally friendly, sustainable and also to generate initiatives in the field of energy transition,» he said.

During the forum, the West-Kazakhstan oblast Akimat and KPO signed an agreement on cooperation in the development of potential offset projects in the West-Kazakhstan oblast and an agreement on cooperation and interaction in the realm of feasibility of using the recycled industrial waste as secondary raw material between the WKO environmental department, the WKO office of natural resources and environmental governance, KPO company and the West-Kazakhstan university named after Makhambet Utemisov.

The participants of the event adopted a joint Resolution and recommended to create conditions for further development of ESG principles for sustainable development of the region considering the regional and international experience, to promote the culture of population in the use of environmental technologies aimed at reducing and trapping greenhouse gas emissions, contribute to the improvement of the culture of population in the field of sustainable waste management.

Besides, organizations and specialists who have demonstrated best performance in environmental protection and sustainable development were awarded at the forum.

KPO Public and Media Relations Department