09. Sustainable development

Environmental protection

Being one of the biggest energy companies in Kazakhstan Samruk-Energy JSC recognizes its important role in the processes of sustainable development for the community. 

Environmental protection and reasonable use of resources play a significant role in the activity of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates. Priority directions of development and goals of the Company’s activity in the sphere of environmental protection are reflected in a long-term Development strategy and Environmental policy of the Company. 

The Company plans to gradually reduce impact of production activity on the environment by implementation of new technologies and application of renewable energy sources.

Below brief information regarding management approach to each environmental aspect is given.

Used materials

While performing its activity Samruk-Energy Group of Companies acquires natural resources used for further transformation into electric of thermal energy. Together with natural resources Samruk-Energy Group of Companies also uses chemical products, lubricants and cooling fluids less important in consumption. In particular, up to now some subsidiaries and affiliates of Samruk-Energy Group of Companies use equipment with polychlorinated biphenyls (hereinafter referred to as PCB). PCB is used as dielectric liquids in transformers, condensers and other electric equipment constituting threat to human health. 

While performing its activity Samruk-Energy Group of Companies acquires natural resources used for further transformation into electric of thermal energy. Together with natural resources Samruk-Energy Group of Companies also uses chemical products, lubricants and cooling fluids less important in consumption. 

To eliminate the risk of intoxication with PCB the Republic of Kazakhstan signed Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (hereinafter referred to as POP). In accordance with this document the Republic of Kazakhstan after becoming a party of the Convention shall undertake the following measures: 

• to forbid export, import and production of POP-containing substances over the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• to seize application of equipment containing PCB (i.e. transformers, condensers and other receivers containing liquid substances remnants) by the year 2025; 
• to take measures for reduction of accidental releases of POP;
• to make efforts for development of relevant strategies to determine areas contaminated with POP; 
• to inform the society concerning danger of impact of POP on human health and environment.

To minimize impact from used materials onto the environment Samruk-Energy Group of Companies in future plans to use mostly renewable energy sources, in particular sun and wind energy which will allow significantly reducing emissions into the atmosphere. 

Energy

Samruk-Energy Group of Companies makes efforts contributing to increase of energy efficiency. Priority measures in this issue are improvement and modernization of obsolete electric equipment, increase of efficiency in production, transport and distribution of electric and heat energy as well as cultivating economic application set of mind among population to consumption of electric and heat energy.

EN1: Use of materials specifying weight or volume

EN3: Direct use of energy specifying primary sources

EN5: Energy saved as a result of measure on reduction of energy consumption and improvement of energy efficiency

Energy saving of Samruk-Energy Group of Companies is the result of optimization of auxiliary electric energy equipment operation, replacement of obsolete equipment with more energy efficient one as well as economic use of electric energy by employees of the Group.

Water

Water in Samruk-Energy Group of Companies is first of all used for cooling of electric equipment, circulating systems and auxiliary technological processes of reverse water supply at hydroelectric plants, thermal stations and public regional electric stations. 

A small part of drawn water is evaporated during technological process. The fundamental volume of water after use in production processes and performance of mechanical, physical-and-chemical and biological treatment returns to natural environment. 

Local authorized bodies for water resources and environment regulate the issues on water intake; in particular special attention is paid to the water level in ecosystems of regions where subsidiaries and affiliates are located. 

Reduction of water loss volumes used in technological process is a priority orientation in the medium-term prospective. 

EN8: Total volume if drawn water by sources

When performing activities the Samruk-Energy Group of Companies acquires natural resources used for further conversion into electric or thermal energy. Along with natural resources the Samruk-Energy Group of Companies also uses chemical products, lubricants and cooling liquids which are less significant by consumption.

EN10: Part and total volume of reusable water

EN11: Location and area of lands being the property of, rentable by or under the control of organization and situated over the protected natural territories and territories with appreciated value of biodiversity outside their borders or adjacent to such territories 

Biodiversity 

Samruk-Energy Group of Companies strives to minimize impact of its activity on flora and fauna. Special attention is paid to regions where energy assets of Samruk-Energy Group of Companies are located over the territories of national nature park or reserves. 

For the moment Samruk-Energy Group of Companies has no developed regulating documents in the sphere of biodiversity management. Irrespective of absence of any documents on biodiversity management Samruk-Energy Group of Companies understands the significance of economic production processes and implementation of new technologies increasing the safety of animal and plant life. 

Taking into account the increasing importance of sustainable development both all around the world and in Kazakhstan Samruk-Energy Group of Companies plans to improve control and management of biodiversity in the regions where they operate. 

Facilities of Samruk-Energy Group of Companies which are taken into account for this indicator are mainly water reservoirs, electric power lines, thermal stations, public regional electric stations and hydropower plants.

Among Samruk-Energy Group of Companies only Almaty Power Stations JSC has plant assets which include HPP-1, HPP-2 and HPP-3 located over the territory of Ile-Alatau national natural park, 48.8 ha in area. This park is included into the list of specially protected natural areas of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Emissions

Fundamental significant greenhouse gas discharged into the atmosphere as a result of activity of Samruk-Energy Group of Companies is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is formed by production of thermal and electrical energy as well as by coal extraction. It is no doubts that increase in production of Samruk-Energy Group of Companies assumes increase of discharge of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE POLLUTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT SAMRUK-ENERGY GROUP OF COMPANIES PERFORMS SYSTEMATIC WORKS ON MODERNIZATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESS, I.E.: 

• Reduction of atmospheric emission of pollutants and improvement of environmental condition in Almaty within the frames of implementation of project Expansion and reconstruction of Almaty CHP-1 with installation of CCGT unit;
• Installation of smoke filters which help to catch the most part of particulate emissions into the atmosphere at electric stations;
• At gas-turbine power plants (GTPP) – implementation of gas-steam cycle with increase of electricity production per unit of gas volume by 35% and more and increase of performance index up to 55%; 
• Construction of renewable energy sources, in particular wind and sun electric power plants.

EN20: Emission of NOХ, SOX and other significant pollutants into the atmosphere specifying type and weight

Disposals

Environmental safety and reasonable use of natural resources including water hold a prominent place in the activity of Samruk-Energy Group of Companies.

Reduction of volumes of water intake and discharge necessary for normal operation of electric power plant is the primary task for solution of problem of successive reduction of disposals into the ecosystem of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Before they reach water sources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, disposals from generating stations are analyzed for excess of pollutants in effluents. According to the results of tests performed all disposals from Samruk-Energy Group of Companies conform to the requirements of Environmental legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE SPECIFIED PRIORITY MEASURES AND MINIMIZE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT SAMRUK-ENERGY GROUP OF COMPANIES IN 2013 PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING:

1. Installed filters at power plants №№ 3, 7 of Ekibastuz SDPS-1 with ash collection index 99.6% and higher (today ash collection index of scrubber filters is 88%);
2. Installed new sluice-discharge pipeline of hydraulic ash transport (HAT) system, branches №№ 2, 3 (85%);
3. Reconstruction of water purification plant (WPP), works are performed by 50%;
4. Dust control of relevant  ash shore: planting of 20 ha of shrubbery  and 80 ha of grass;
5. Planting of landscaped areas over the territory of sanitary protection zone 1.8 ha in area: tree nursery plants – 2,000 pcs., shrubbery nursery plants – 1,000 pcs.;
6. Installation of new generation emulsifiers at boiler units of CHP-2, 3 with ash collection index not less than 99.4%:
   • CHP-2 – installed at two boilers, expenses amounted to;
   • Environmental impact: reduction of nonorganic dust emissions by 2,135 tons;
   • CHP-3 – installed at one boiler, expenses amounted to;
   • Environmental impact: reduction of nonorganic dust emissions by 1,000 tons.
7. Upgrading of burner devices at boiler units of TPP-1, 3 departments in order to bring emissions of nitrogen oxides to conformance in accordance with the requirements of Technical regulation.
8. Protection and reasonable use of water resources and soils at AlPP JSC CHP-1;
9. Performance of repair and replacement of sluice-discharge pipelines, repair of pumping equipment in boiler, turbine, by-product recovery departments and sewage disposal plants
10. AlPP JSC CHP-2 Reconstructive and repair works of hydraulic ash transport system, commercial systems, tanks with clarified water reserves.

IT IS ALSO PLANNED:

1. To install electric filters at power plant №2 of Ekibastuz SDPS-1;
2. To install low emission burners at power plant №2 of Ekibastuz SDPS-1;
3. To purchase household sewage treatment unit;
4. To complete reconstruction works of sluice-discharge pipelines of HAT system from PK145 to PK250, installation of new sluice-discharge pipelines of branches №2 and №3 transport;
5. Planting of 100 ha of shrubbery;
6. Development of ash disposal area restoration project. Design approval. Approval of works on ash disposal area restoration;
7. Implementation of measures on maintaining nitrogen oxides emission level at normal values by upgrading burner devices at boiler units of CHP-1, CHP-2 and CHP-3 of AlPP JSC;
8. Works on maintenance of emission levels set by technical regulations;
9. Reconstructive and repair works of existing equipment (boiler units, new generation emulsifiers, mechanical cooling towers, ash-sluicing units, HAT ducts);
10. Reconstructive and repair works at operating ash disposal area;
11. Increase in labor productivity at thermal power plant and CHP on the basis of implementation of computer aided manufacturing (CAM);
12. Upgrading of waterpower and hydraulic equipment of Shadrinskaya HPP with increase of installed capacity (at the moment – 100 MW) by 16 and more per cent, energy production by 57 mln kW/year;
13. Increase of accuracy, reliability and operational efficiency of energy fiscal metering, obtainment of complete energy balance to every power asset by implementing automatic system for commercial accounting of power consumption (ASKUE).

Total volume of disposals in Samruk-Energy Group of Companies

Wastes

The most typical manufacturing wastes of Samruk-Energy Group of Companies are ash, coal combustion slags, insulating oils, utilized mercury-vapor lamps and electric batteries. Currently, Samruk-Energy Group of Companies does not have a common approach to waste management.

Products and Services 

The key products and services of Samruk-Energy Group of Companies are cogeneration, power distribution and transportation, coal mining, reconstruction and upgrading of electric power facilities. The key aim is to maintain the achieved level of the services and products to be provided, and to improve quality and features further using the west standards towards the electric power and coal products and services.

As a result, Samruk-Energy Group of Companies adheres to all requirements to quality and features of the products and services to be provided in Kazakhstan.

Compliance with Requirements 

Management of Samruk-Energy JSC pays careful attention to the enforcement of environmental laws. 

One of high priority measures for enforcement is an environmental audit. In the medium term, Samruk-Energy Group of Companies plans to introduce a certified environmental management system to minimize a negative environmental impact, to enhance environmental and economic efficiency and to reduce waste generation and processing.

For 2013, the fines for failure to comply with environmental laws of Kazakhstan were imposed on Samruk-Energy Group of Companies during its activity.

Transport 

Priority of Samruk-Energy Group of Companies is to minimize greenhouse gas emissions generated by subsidiaries and associates. 

Greenhouse gas emissions generated by the use of vehicles to transfer the staff and fuel are insignificant as compared to the emissions generated by electric or heat energy. When transporting electric energy, there are no processes resulting in air emissions and discharges into water bodies.