Panorama Karachaganaka, №6(956)
By P. ALEXEYEV
The consultation groups that were created last year in the villages near Karachaganak are continuing their activity. As a reminder, a memorandum on the creation of consultation groups was signed by the Akimat and Maslikhat of the Burlin district and KPO, with the purpose of improving the system for informing the area population on the development of the Karachaganak field, including in regards to production, the social sector, the provision of ecological and industrial safety, emergency response and sanitary epidemiological conditions.
During January of this year, the consultation groups of the Berezovka and Uspenovka rural districts visited the LLP Gidromet Ltd., where they were updated on the modern technical methods used in measurement and analyses during the complex ecological monitoring at Karachaganak. Presentations on the environmental monitoring system were then held in 2 rural districts.
On January 16th, a joint session involving the consultation groups and the Berezovka rural district Public Council were held. Our attention was drawn to this regular event because it is in this rural district alone that an initiative group has been created with the established goal of achieving the resettlement of the residents, as had occurred with the people of Tungush, to the oblast centre or other settlements in the oblast. Steve Pearson, the KPO environmental manager spoke during a joint session and confirmed the company’s readiness to engage in dialogue and discuss any urgent issues. The Coordinator of the environmental monitoring group from the company’s Environmental Protection Department (HSE), Serik Kadyraliev informed the public on the standards of air quality and normative requirements, and on the MPC concept (maximum permissible concentrations), as well as on actions geared toward the protection of the air basin around the field. The MPC norms for harmful materials have been set by the chief national sanitary doctor and are government approved.
The air measurements at the field and nearby villages are conducted by stationary observation posts and mobile environmental monitoring stations. At Karachaganak, 2 types of monitoring are practiced, which allow for conducting the MPW project (maximum permissible wastes). The first of these is controlling emissions directly at the source. Special devices are installed that measure those gases or other harmful substances, and at what concentration they are being emitted into the atmosphere. The limits and actual amount of waste are then compared. The second type of control method is the usage of a Sanitary Protection Zone, or SPZ. Air measurements are then made on the border of the SPZ, and if none of the monitored pollutants exceed the MPC, everything is alright.
Stationary atmosphere observation posts are placed in all villages. In fact, the monitoring of the air is the prerogative of state agencies, two ministries specifically, which are that of Environmental Protection and Healthcare. Taking into account the concerns of the population however, KPO had suggested installing stationary observation posts in all 10 villages at its own expense. A post was also placed in Berezovka. As per the MPW project, an air quality monitoring program was developed. This program was also agreed upon with the ecology and state sanitary supervision bodies. Following the approval of the program, KPO concluded a contract with the Gidromet Ltd., whose specialists conduct air measurements and laboratory analyses of the samples 4 times per day. After these quarterly reports on the air conditions are submitted to the Oblast Department of Ecology and Oblast Sanitary Epidemiological Stations, copies are then sent to the Burlin District Department of Ecology and District Sanitary Epidemiological Station, as well as the Oblast Subsoil Protection Inspection Office.
Six substances are measured at Berezovka. These include hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon oxide, methane and methyl-mercaptan. HO2, SO2 and CO are also monitored. As was reported previously, during burning, hydrogen sulphide produces sulphur dioxide. According to the results of the measurements, the level of methane and methyl-mercaptan concentration at Berezovka is lower than the detection level. This means that the devices do not detect there presence. The human nose is actually the most sensitive of devices, and the fact that people report smelling gas often does not mean that the MPC is being exceeded. At the border of the SPZ, on average, the concentration of methane is at around 3 milligrams per 1 cubic metre of air, while the MPC is 50 mg. Such a stable concentration has been observed over the past 5 years. The authenticity of the research was checked by the commissions from the Oblast Sanitary Epidemiological Supervision during July, as well as by the Ministry of Environmental Protection in September of last year. The conclusion reached on the part of these 2 commissions noted that there were no violations found during the research, and all evidence indicates that the pollution of the atmosphere in Berezovka over the last 5 years has not exceeded the MPC and is not having a negative impact on the health of the people and the environment.
Despite these conclusions, the members of the Berezovka village initiative group, led by a teacher from the Berezovka School, S. Anosova, continue to hold another opinion. They do not agree with the change in the diameter of the SPZ, as was agreed upon with the national chief sanitary doctor.
As was noted, in January 2004, the SPZ was reduced from 5 to 3 km. In fact, the Berezovka village border remained within the limits, since the method for determining the borders of the field has changed. This is why statements on the part of some skeptics and resettlement activists that the reduction in the SPZ was made deliberately with the aim of leaving out Berezovka in order to avoid expenses associated with resettlement is incorrect. The reasons for this are first of all, that the reduction of the SPZ was included into the RK sanitary rules and norms. Second, with the reduction to 3 km, geographically the borders have changed little, because in 1998, when the production and infrastructure facilities were in their development stage, during approval of the initial 5 km border, the benchmark used was the field’s gas-oil contour. Later, during a correction of the border of the SPZ, in accordance with RK legislation, the benchmark became the external waste sources. According RK legal standards, a reduction of the SPZ was permitted if the field developers introduce modern production technologies that ensure environmental safety.
Today at Karachaganak, a waste reduction strategy is being implemented with the application ofenvironmentally safe flares that eliminate the production of soot and micro-particles during gas flaring at wells. The installation of additional gas isolation compressors at Unit-3 have decreased the need for regular gas flaring.
Gas re-injection technology was also introduced at the field and is working sucessfully. At Unit-2, 40% of associated gas is sent for re-injection. The remaining 60% is then processed at the de-sulphurisation plant, where hydrogen sulphide and other harmful substances are extracted. During the process of de-sulphurisation, fuel gas is produced, which is then used for the needs of the field and the area population. KPO invests tens of millions of dollars annually into the improvement of the ecological situation near the field, including the introduction of the latest technologies that allow for reducing the harmful impact of production on the environment. And this is correct.
Imagine that the Kazakhstani government allocates a one-time payment of several millions of dollars for the resettlement of Berezovka. Will all of the related problems be immediately solved? Of course not. Following this logic, it would also be necessary to then resettle one-half of the district, and all of the relocated people would require new employment. Most of them would like to obtain apartments in the city, and with the exception of the teachers, it would be problematic for them to find jobs.
It seems that the solution of the problem actually lies elsewhere, which is a gradual reduction in the negative impact of the field on the environment. This would allow for preserving the flora and fauna in the area, people would improve the villages that were founded by their ancestors, continue the progress of their history, and not be forced to give up the connections they have with their neighbors. Where would the members of the initiative group members direct their efforts in this case? Gidromet Ltd. has many times suggested that the residents of Berezovka take part in conducting measurements in the village and the analysis of the results at the lab in Aksai. The last time this issue was raised was on January 6, during a visit on the part of the members of a consultation group to the Gidromet lab. Once again the proposal was to work together in order to eliminate any distrust felt on the part of the residents of Berezovka. The employees of Gidromet are prepared to provide updates on their methods and allow any resident to participate in the analysis of the research results, be it a chemistry teacher, or any other expert. It seems however, that there is no time for this.
There was time however to conduct various research in cooperation with foreign organisations. The most active fighter for the health of the Berezovka residents was the NGO, Crude Accountability. At first, one could only welcome such activity. But the real question is why is this organisation’s operations covered with so much secrecy? No local mass media outlet has been able to contact them or to write about their purposes. They are refusing contact under any circumstances. As a result, people overseas are only thinking about the welfare of our compatriots, while in our country, the people are not wishing for the best for their compatriots.
Does this NGO not understand that without cooperating with the local authorities, it is impossible to achieve their goals, and that it is not confrontation, but cooperation that is the quickest way to solve a problem?
So far, the actions taken on the part of this NGO have demonstrated that they are unwilling to cooperate, and this is only heating up the situation and disorienting the residents of Berezovka. This is one example. The NGO also conducted laboratory research of air samples that were taken in Berezovka, which has allegedly confirmed the presence of 25 toxic substances that cause illnesses and even cancer. What conclusions will the people make? Naturally, they will think that foreign specialists are more qualified than locals. In order to check the authenticity of the data achieved by the foreign researchers, KPO invited the American Battel Company, a recognised leader in area of industrial environmental monitoring, to conduct similar research.
And what were the results? The company’s conclusions contradicted those reached by the NGO. Whom is one to believe? A deputy from the Berezovka Rural District Maslikhat, V.I. Chigvintsev suggested conducting joint research with the participation of these American companies and Gidromet LTD. It was difficult to disagree with this proposal, and the leader of the initiative group, Svetlana Anosova did not object, but rather emphasised that this research could not be funded by KPO. “We will fund it ourselves,” she said. The question is where will the residents of Berezovka get the money from? In order to hire 2 specialised foreign labs and compensate their expenses, tens of thousands dollars would be needed. Therefore, this initiative group is funded by rich sponsors and has a lot of money. Another fact has also confirmed this. In order to find out how many Berezovka residents want to resettle and how many wish to stay, a group of Moscow sociologists were hired. What is a survey in fact? It involves the development of a questionnaire and the preparation of population samples, which include men, women, elderly, young people, Kazakhs, Russians, Tatars, Ukrainians, teachers, pensioners, farmers, groups that will be questioned, and others that will not be given the survey.
The questionnaires are then distributed, are filled out by the people selected, and are then collected and analyzed. Conclusions are then made, and recommendations prepared. It is then determined whether or not the selected sample is accurate, which is a conclusion is made as to how reliable the survey is, in terms of by what percentage the results deviate from the true situation. As a result, the Berezovka residents can find out what they think.
Everything is done scientifically, and is difficult to argue with. However… Conducting sociological research with the use of foreign sociologists is very expensive. If they have so much money, why not spend it more wisely, to help the needy villagers for example? You ask, how can one find out what the Berezovka residents think about the resettlement? This is not difficult. In a village where there are 400 households, it is not a problem to ask each family if they wish to move. It would take several people and several days to complete. The answer would become clear without great expense and would generate 100% accurate data.
This situation has lead us to believe that there is an ill defined game underway surrounding Berezovka, and a great deal of money is being invested into its play. Whether or not the people are resettled in the end depends on many factors that will affect the decision to be made at the government level. These factors however, do not include those that we mentioned in this article.
What is the conclusion? The foreign NGO had selected Berezovka, even though it could have picked any other village near the field for certain goals, of which only they are aware. The initiative group, whose existence is determined by money, gives the impression of engaging in inspire action that is allegedly aimed at caring for the villagers. But what about the Berezovka residents? What is there to do? Should people wait for lots of money for the resettlement, or think about the future through developing farms, organising agricultural companies, and not placing our hope on someone else. One could wait for a lifetime, and have no future in the process.
