/REUTERS, Almaty, Raushan Nurshayeva, November 17, 03/ - The Ministry of natural environment protection of Kazakhstan raised claims to a number of country's largest enterprises, including Tengizchevroil and Kazakhmys and promised to toughen a policy on punishment of violators of ecology norms'.

The Minister of natural environment Aitkul Samakova said at Parliament's meeting on Monday that Kazakhstan largest company, developing giant Tengiz oilfield - Tengizchevroil LLP is imposed a fine in amount of KZT152 mn (nearly $1 mn) for excessive effluent discharge and atmosphere-pollutant emissions.

"This new suit, but without a court, has been only sent to them, I guess they will pay", - she said to journalists after the meeting.

In this spring, environment-protection body collected from Tengizchevroil KZT1.0 bn ($6.8 mn) through court for sulfur storage in the open air. In the course of court examination, which reached the Supreme Court and gave rise to suspicions of government's attempts to put pressure on the company, the amount of fine reduced 10 times

Company's representatives were unavailable for comments on Monday.

The Minister Samakova named Balkhashtsvetmet and copper-chemical plant of Vostokmed branch owned by Kazakhmys corporation as the heaviest polluters.

"In total Kazakhmys, which includes these enterprises, is imposed seven fines for total amount of KZT3.5 mn", - the minister said.

Kazakhmys is a monopolistic copper producer in Kazakhstan. The company's representative said to REUTERS on Monday that she can't comment on the minister's words, as she did not listen to her speech, though pointed at the fact that the country's president Nursultan Nazarbayev looked around cleaning facilities at new enterprise of the company in Balkhash in October and hold up Kazakhmys as an example.

The head of environment-protection body said at the same time that CNPC- Aktobemunaigas oil company, controlled by Chinese CNPC and Kaztsink metallurgical company were also imposed fines for violation of ecological norms.

"By results of our examination of CNPC_Aktobemunaigas OJSC, the explotation of 5 oil wells at Zhanazhol oilfield until reinterment of by-products in compliance with technical and ecological requirements", - Samakova said to deputies.

CNPC representatives were unavailable for comments on Monday.

The largest fine KZT864 mn ($5.88 mn) - the Ministry of natural environment protection is going to impose on Ust-Kamenogorsk metallurgical complex, owned by Kaztsink metallurgical company, for excessive pollutant emissions.

Kaztsink representative said to REUTERS that he couldn't comment on the minister's words without the Ministry's official statement of claims.

Samakova said that the Ministry intends to act resolutely.

"Today we are raising questions rigidly. If enterprises-polluters don not undertake corresponding measures on environmental safety, they should be closed our totally modernized", - she said to deputies.

In particular, the minister expressed her concerns with plans on giant hydrocarbon deposits development at Caspian shelf, with which Kazakhstan intends to increase its oil production capacity three times by 2015.

"I want to say that we are very concerned about Caspian shelf development not only because we said that 150 mn tones of oil will be extracted there by 2015, - but in order not to disturb the ecosystem of the sea", - Samakova said, having added that in cooperation with her Russian colleagues the Ministry intends to start ecological monitoring of Caspian sea condition beginning from the next year.

[2003-11-17]