Entrepreneurs propose to reform environmental code
The document should help improve the environment, rather than replenish the budget
A meeting of the Committee of Mining and Metallurgical Industry of the Presidium of the National Chamber took place on the site of NCE RK "Atameken".
As it is known, in 2018 the Code "On Subsoil and Subsoil Use" will come into force. The geological community associates great hopes with it, since the document provides conceptually new approaches to the development of geological exploration. In particular, the transition to international standards, the attraction of junior companies, reducing the financial burden for investors at the exploration stage, and others.
"The measures taken, of course, will give impetus to the development of the geological industry. However, it is presumptuous to think that the investor will immediately come to an empty place only because of the adoption of the Code. We have a lot of work ahead to develop a subsoil management program, which is designed to ensure openness and transparency of geological information. In this regard, it is necessary to develop an industry geology program that will be aimed at training personnel, attracting new technologies and methods of geological prospecting", - said Galina Baymakhanova, president of the Association of Production Geological Organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Deputy Chairman of the Board of NCE RK "Atameken" Eldos Ramazanov supported the speaker, noting that the National Chamber is ready to make maximum efforts to ensure that the impulse of the forward movement of the industry does not abate.
"The issue of the development of geology in Kazakhstan is under the control of Timur Askarovich Kulibayev, Chairman of Atameken Presidium. It is important for us to restore the potential of Kazakhstani geological exploration. In addition, I think it is advisable to raise the issue of the need to develop a mining development program for a clear understanding of where to move companies, which fields will be disposed of, where there is potential for extraction, which markets we can go out with our products, what we need to do”, - said Eldos Ramazanov.
The committee members agreed on the need to develop the program and its presentation at the World Mountain Congress (WMC 2018), which will be held in Kazakhstan. The Chairman of the Committee Nikolay Radostovets also suggested, in addition to voiced questions, to focus on the coal industry separately.
"We should note that coal is one of the export goods of Kazakhstan. Today, there are a number of environmental requirements for the extraction and combustion of coal, but at the same time, look, even in Germany, where environmental requirements are among the highest, 40% of the electric power industry is based on coal. It's not a secret that Kazakhstan is rich in coal reserves and it is important for us to open new markets for coal exports, create new industries such as coal chemistry, methane gas stratigraphy, which requires a clear understanding of what measures must be taken", - Radostovets said.
Participants suggested supporting the initiative to hold the first coal miners forum in Kazakhstan in summer 2018, and before that time to work out all the current issues of the industry.
Members of the committee also spoke about the need to revise the environmental legislation with a view to avoiding its fiscal focus on protecting the environment.
"The current environmental legislation is aimed at replenishing the budget, but not improving the quality of the environment. For example, in Pavlodar region, only 3% of the funds received from environmental payment companies were directed to environmental activities. Such an approach complicates the constructive dialogue between companies and state bodies, since akimats do not benefit from clean technologies a priori because of a decrease in the receipt of funds to local budgets", - Radostovets said.
In this regard, the participants proposed that the year 2018 be devoted to the issue of reforming environmental legislation.
Please, join our Telegram channel to stay up to date on the latest news.
Leave comment:
Comments: