KMG and CNPC Joint Venture Fined 32 billion

MangystauMunayGas, a major Kazakh-Chinese oil venture, has been hit with a 32.2 billion tenge fine for significant environmental violations, Orda.kz reports.

The Prosecutor's Office explained that the oil company dumped wastewater into the subsoil and accumulated drilling waste. This is permitted by law but with a specific limit.

In addition, the fact of excessive emissions of pollutants into the environment from oil heating furnaces was established,  prosecutors stated.

A court imposed the penalty under Article 328 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which addresses violations of environmental impact standards.

MangystauMunayGas is jointly owned by KazMunayGas, Kazakhstan's national oil company, and CNPC, China's national oil company, each holding a 50% stake.

Original Author: Alexandra Mokhireva