Smelter emissions in Kazakhstan: fines and investment pledges at Kazzinc, Kazakhmys and ERG
- My Filippovka river carried pollutants up to 140 times the norm after a sludge leak in 2023, according to NewTimes.kz. NewTimes.kz
- My Bukhtarma river received a discharge in 2021 with heavy metals “tens of times” above limits, according to NewTimes.kz. NewTimes.kz
- In a spring 2026 inspection, emissions from Kazzinc's complex exceeded permitted levels for sulphur dioxide 3.5 times, carbon monoxide 2 times and nitrogen oxides 1.5 times, according to NewTimes.kz. NewTimes.kz
- Kazzinc accounts for 44% of the industrial emissions in my air over Ust-Kamenogorsk, according to the Ministry of Ecology. NewTimes.kz
- In the first quarter of 2025, the boiler house of the Aksu ferroalloy plant put 663.67 tonnes of pollutants above norms into my air in Pavlodar region. NewTimes.kz
- 3 people died.Workers who died after the explosion at the Kazzinc zinc plant: two on 5 May, one on 12 May.
- Government and regulators Ministry of Ecology: Kazzinc accounts for 44% of the city's industrial emissions. NewTimes.kz
- Company or project Kazzinc: Denied that its plants caused the 2017 pollution after a fire and blamed transport and fuel-handling businesses. NewTimes.kz
- Government and regulators Government of Kazakhstan: Presented the fall in Kazzinc's site emissions from 69,000 tons (2001) to about 15,000 tons as progress. Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
- Communities and civil society An ecologist quoted by NewTimes.kz: “Kazzinc reached high rates of dust cleaning, but this did not make the air cleaner.” NewTimes.kz
- Company or project Kazakhmys: Smoke is permitted as a result of the technological process; emissions do not exceed limits in the residential zone. Informburo
- Government and regulators Karaganda ecology department: Found excess dust, nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the aspiration gases of the converter area. Informburo
Regulators fined metallurgical plants of Kazzinc, Kazakhmys and the ERG group in East Kazakhstan, Karaganda and Pavlodar regions between 2020 and 2026, while the operators announced environmental investment programmes, including more than KZT 108 billion at Kazzinc and KZT 128 billion for ERG's transition to best available techniques.
Pledge: more than KZT 108 bn for best available techniques at key facilities (government release, 25 June 2025). Fine: KZT 60,550,000 announced in July 2026 for the 5 May 2026 release of zinc dust.
Status As of July 2026: Kazzinc fined KZT 60,550,000 for the 5 May 2026 release; criminal case on the explosion under Article 156 part 4 open; no published result of the Prosecutor General's Office inspection.
- State budget — Collected the Aksu plant's KZT 855 mln fine and Kazakhmys Smelting's KZT 4.5 mln in fines NewTimes.kz
- Kazzinc — Fined KZT 60,550,000 for the release of zinc dust after the 5 May 2026 explosion; three workers died Informburo
- TNK Kazchrome (ERG) — Fined KZT 855 mln for excess emissions at the Aksu ferroalloy plant NewTimes.kz
- Kazakhmys Smelting — Fined KZT 4.5 mln in 2023 Bizmedia.kz
- Rivers near Kazzinc sites — Zinc at 215 times the limit at one outlet (2020); pollutants up to 140 times the norm in the Filippovka river (2023) Inbusiness.kz
- Air over Ust-Kamenogorsk, Balkhash and Aksu — Sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide exceedances; 663.67 tonnes above norms at Aksu in the first quarter of 2025 NewTimes.kz
What happened
Kazzinc operates the Ust-Kamenogorsk metallurgical complex and the Ridder mining and processing complex in East Kazakhstan region; Glencore holds 69.61% and Samruk-Kazyna 29.8% (Inbusiness.kz, June 2024). In 2020 the Department of Ecology of East Kazakhstan reported 78 orders to compensate environmental damage totalling more than KZT 2 bn across all polluters in the region; more than KZT 136 mln was collected on 56 orders and KZT 1.9 bn on 22 orders was not collected. It reported that Kazzinc's metallurgical complex exceeded limits for sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide, that at water outlets of the Altai and Ridder complexes sulphates, zinc, manganese and other substances exceeded limits (zinc by 215 times at one outlet), and that Kazzinc violated a memorandum on cutting emissions during adverse weather in December 2020. The 2020 figures cover all polluters together.
A NewTimes.kz chronology lists further Kazzinc incidents: a 2021 discharge into the Bukhtarma river (fine KZT 291 thousand; damage assessed at KZT 8.2 mln; heavy metals “tens of times” above limits); a 2021 hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide episode that caused chemical burns on plants (fine KZT 326 thousand; damage compensation KZT 3.5 mln); in 2022, the Ulba river and unauthorised emissions (fine KZT 45.32 mln); in 2023, a sludge leak into the Filippovka river, the “milky river” (almost KZT 50 mln; pollutants up to 140 times the norm); the November 2024 smog in Ust-Kamenogorsk, when more than 50,000 schoolchildren moved to distance learning; and a spring 2026 inspection by the Department of Ecology (fine KZT 20 mln; sulphur dioxide 3.5 times, carbon monoxide 2 times and nitrogen oxides 1.5 times the permitted levels). An inspection of the metallurgical complex over the smog was reported as started after a senator's appeal.
On 5 May 2026 an explosion in a dust-collection unit (bag filters) at Kazzinc's zinc plant killed two workers that day and a third on 12 May. Zinc dust was released at 2.8 tonnes per hour according to the official account. The deputy head of the Department of Ecology of East Kazakhstan, Aset Suleimenov, announced a fine of KZT 60,550,000 for the unauthorised release of pollutants, as well as four unplanned inspections in the first half of 2026 and environmental payments of KZT 190,666,315. A criminal case was opened under Article 156 part 4 (labour-safety violations causing the deaths of two or more persons); no trial had taken place by 10 May 2026.
At the Kazakhmys Smelting copper smelter in Balkhash (Karaganda region), the company said in August 2020 that smoke during converting “is permitted as a result of the technological process” and that emissions do not exceed limits in the residential zone; it said full modernisation would require about USD 1.8 bn and could not be done at once. The Karaganda ecology department had found excess dust, nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the aspiration gases of the converter area. In 2023 Kazakhmys Smelting was fined KZT 4.5 mln (three fines, paid in full) for exceeding sulphur dioxide limits and inefficient gas capture; the plant accounts for 12% of the region's emissions and was ordered to upgrade all treatment facilities by the end of the year.
At ERG's plants, the Committee for Environmental Regulation and Control reported on 7 December 2022 nine inspections of ERG companies in two years, with findings of emissions without a permit, excess pollutants, excess inorganic dust, mixing of hazardous waste and inaccurate reports, and fines of about KZT 60 mln. ERG accounts for 43% of air pollution in Pavlodar region, and its transition programme to best available techniques, agreed to 2030 in its integrated environmental permit, costs KZT 128 bn and plans a 67 thousand tonne emissions cut over ten years. In the first quarter of 2025 the boiler house of the Aksu ferroalloy plant (TNK Kazchrome) emitted 663.67 tonnes above norms; the Department of Ecology of Pavlodar region fined it KZT 855 mln under Article 328 part 1 of the Administrative Code, and the amount was collected into state revenue. On 13 December 2021 ERG, Aluminium of Kazakhstan and Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions signed a contract worth more than KZT 19 bn (about USD 44 mln) to replace four electrostatic filters at the Pavlodar aluminium smelter, with a stage due by the end of 2024.
On 25 June 2025 a government release on a Green Economy Council meeting said Kazzinc plans best available techniques at key facilities (sulphur dioxide capture, rebuilt particulate filters) with total investment of more than KZT 108 bn, and that emissions at the Ust-Kamenogorsk site fell from 69,000 tons in 2001 to about 15,000 tons. The same release says Kazakhmys upgraded water cooling at Balkhash, cutting fresh water use by 35%, and cut Zhezkazgan smelter emissions by 16% through gasification.
- 2020Department of Ecology of East Kazakhstan reports exceedances at Kazzinc and orders to compensate damage across the region (reported 17 Mar 2021); Kazakhmys says smoke at Balkhash is permitted in the process (27 Aug)
- 2021Bukhtarma river discharge; hydrogen sulphide episode; ERG, Aluminium of Kazakhstan and Thyssenkrupp sign a contract of more than KZT 19 bn for filters (13 Dec)
- 2022Kazzinc fined KZT 45.32 mln (Ulba river and unauthorised emissions); Committee for Environmental Regulation and Control reports nine inspections of ERG companies (7 Dec)
- 2023Kazakhmys Smelting fined KZT 4.5 mln (April); sludge leak into the Filippovka river
- 2024Smog in Ust-Kamenogorsk (November): more than 50,000 schoolchildren move to distance learning
- 2025Aksu ferroalloy plant fined KZT 855 mln for the first quarter (reported 13 Jun); Green Economy Council meeting presents emission cuts and Kazzinc's KZT 108 bn plan (25 Jun)
- 2026Explosion at Kazzinc's zinc plant (5 May); Kazzinc fined KZT 60,550,000 for the release of zinc dust (reported 3 Jul)
What was said
“is permitted. as a result of conducting the technological process”
“do not exceed maximum permissible concentrations. in the residential zone”
“Kazzinc reached high rates of dust cleaning, but this did not make the air cleaner”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
Kazzinc accounts for 44% of the city's industrial emissions.
NewTimes.kzDenied that its plants caused the 2017 pollution after a fire and blamed transport and fuel-handling businesses.
NewTimes.kzPresented the fall in Kazzinc's site emissions from 69,000 tons (2001) to about 15,000 tons as progress.
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan“Kazzinc reached high rates of dust cleaning, but this did not make the air cleaner.”
NewTimes.kzSmoke is permitted as a result of the technological process; emissions do not exceed limits in the residential zone.
InformburoFound excess dust, nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the aspiration gases of the converter area.
InformburoHow it looked
Shown
- The fall in emissions at Kazzinc's Ust-Kamenogorsk site from 69,000 tons in 2001 to about 15,000 tons was presented as progress.Government of Kazakhstan, Green Economy Council meeting · Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
- Kazakhmys described smoke during converting at Balkhash as permitted in the technological process.Kazakhmys · Informburo
Recorded
- In East Kazakhstan in 2020, KZT 1.9 bn of more than KZT 2 bn in damage orders was not collected; 176 fines worth more than KZT 7.5 mln were issued and 102 fines worth KZT 7.1 mln were collected.
- Kazzinc accounts for 44% of Ust-Kamenogorsk's industrial emissions (Ministry of Ecology).
- The Aksu ferroalloy plant's KZT 855 mln fine was imposed by the Department of Ecology of Pavlodar region together with the environmental prosecutor's office and was collected into state revenue.
- Kazakhmys Smelting paid its three fines of 2023, KZT 4.5 mln in total, in full.
- Vostoktsvetmet was held administratively liable by court decision for not fixing violations (2020).
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- kazakhmys-smelting (27 August 2020): Said smoke during converting is permitted as a result of the technological process, that emissions do not exceed limits in the residential zone, and that full modernisation would require about USD 1.8 bn. · Informburo
- kazzinc (Date not stated (2017 episode)): Denied that its plants caused the 2017 pollution after a fire and blamed transport and fuel-handling businesses. · NewTimes.kz
- kazakhstan-government (25 June 2025): Presented the fall in Kazzinc's Ust-Kamenogorsk emissions from 69,000 tons to about 15,000 tons as progress and reported Kazakhmys water and emission cuts. · Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2026–2026Claimant wonKZT 60.55m fine (KZT 60,550,000)Administrative fine for the release of zinc dust, Kazzinc zinc plantDepartment of Ecology of East Kazakhstan region · Administrative · Department of Ecology, East Kazakhstan region → Kazzinc
Fine for the unauthorised release of pollutants after the explosion of 5 May 2026, announced by the deputy head of the Department of Ecology, Aset Suleimenov; four unplanned inspections in the first half of 2026 and environmental payments of KZT 190,666,315. Informburo
- 2026–OngoingCriminal case on the Kazzinc zinc plant explosionCriminal investigation, Article 156 part 4 · Criminal · Prosecutors → Not named
Case opened under Article 156 part 4 (labour-safety violations causing the deaths of two or more persons) after the explosion that killed two workers on 5 May 2026 and a third on 12 May; no trial as of 10 May 2026. NewTimes.kz
- 2021Claimant wonKZT 0.29m fine (KZT 291 thousand)Kazzinc, Bukhtarma river discharge (2021)Environmental regulator · Administrative · Environmental regulator → Kazzinc
Fine of KZT 291 thousand; damage assessed at KZT 8.2 mln; heavy metals “tens of times” above limits (NewTimes.kz chronology). NewTimes.kz
- 2021Claimant wonKZT 0.33m fine (KZT 326 thousand)Kazzinc, hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide episode (2021)Environmental regulator · Administrative · Environmental regulator → Kazzinc
Fine of KZT 326 thousand and damage compensation of KZT 3.5 mln for an episode that caused chemical burns on plants (NewTimes.kz chronology). NewTimes.kz
- 2022Claimant wonKZT 45.32m fineKazzinc, Ulba river and unauthorised emissions (2022)Environmental regulator · Administrative · Environmental regulator → Kazzinc
Fine of KZT 45.32 mln (NewTimes.kz chronology). NewTimes.kz
- 2023Outcome not on recordKazzinc, sludge leak into the Filippovka river (2023)Environmental regulator · Administrative · Environmental regulator → Kazzinc
The chronology lists “almost KZT 50 mln” for the leak, with pollutants up to 140 times the norm; it does not say whether the sum is a fine or damage. NewTimes.kz
- 2023Claimant wonKZT 4.5m three fines, paid in fullKazakhmys Smelting fines for sulphur dioxide limitsDepartment of Ecology, Karaganda region · Administrative · Department of Ecology, Karaganda region → Kazakhmys Smelting
Three fines totalling KZT 4.5 mln for exceeding sulphur dioxide limits and inefficient gas capture at the Balkhash smelter; the plant, which accounts for 12% of the region's emissions, was ordered to upgrade all treatment facilities by the end of 2023 (acting head of the department, Darkhan Iszhanov). Bizmedia.kz
- 2025–2025Claimant wonKZT 855m fine, collectedAksu ferroalloy plant fine for excess emissionsDepartment of Ecology, Pavlodar region, with the environmental prosecutor's office · Administrative · Department of Ecology, Pavlodar region → Aksu ferroalloy plant (TNK Kazchrome, ERG)
Fine under Article 328 part 1 of the Administrative Code for 663.67 tonnes of emissions above norms from the boiler house in the first quarter of 2025; the amount was collected into state revenue. NewTimes.kz
- 2020Claimant wonVostoktsvetmet administrative liability (2020)Court decision (court not named) · Administrative · Department of Ecology, East Kazakhstan region → Vostoktsvetmet
Held administratively liable by court decision for not fixing violations. Inbusiness.kz
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
Money
- None on record Kazakhmys full modernisation at Balkhash (company estimate) — The company said it would require about USD 1.8 bn.
Court
- Unclear Kazzinc, sludge leak into the Filippovka river (2023): outcome not on record.
Record
- Disputed Figures differ: the release of zinc dust on 5 May 2026 is given as 2.8 tonnes per hour in the official account and as 2,800 tonnes in the lead of the Informburo article of 3 July 2026.
- Disputed Figures differ: NewTimes.kz gives the Aksu plant's fine as KZT 855 mln; another outlet gives KZT 854 mln.
- None on record None on record: a published result of the Prosecutor General's Office inspection of Kazzinc after the November 2024 smog (as of 10 May 2026).
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: investment amounts and deadlines for Kazzinc's earlier pledges (NewTimes.kz chronology, 10 May 2026).
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: per-company damage amounts in the East Kazakhstan Department of Ecology's 2020 figures.
- None on record None on record: measured results of ERG's KZT 128 bn programme, or whether the KZT 19 bn filter stage finished by the end of 2024.
- Self-reported only Self-reported only: Kazzinc's emission fall at Ust-Kamenogorsk from 69,000 tons in 2001 to about 15,000 tons is given in a government press release.
- Unclear Unclear: whether the “almost KZT 50 mln” listed for the 2023 Filippovka river sludge leak is a fine or damage.
Did the harm stop?
None on record.
Who paid?
Operators paid administrative fines: Kazakhmys Smelting paid KZT 4.5 mln in full (2023) and the Aksu plant's KZT 855 mln fine was collected (2025). In East Kazakhstan in 2020, KZT 1.9 bn of more than KZT 2 bn in damage orders was not collected.
Sources
Government and regulators
- Olzhas Bektenov chairs council meeting on transition to green economy, focus on emission reduction by major industrial enterprisesPrime Minister of Kazakhstan · 2025-06-25
Press and investigations
- Polluters in East Kazakhstan caused more than 2 bn tenge in damage to nature (in Russian)Inbusiness.kz · 2021-03-17
- Explosion at Kazzinc: company fined 60.5 mln tenge (in Russian)Informburo · 2026-07-03
- Ecological crisis in Ust-Kamenogorsk: is Kazzinc to blame and what to do? (in Russian)NewTimes.kz · 2025-01-15
- Kazzinc to be 70% owned by Chinese investors (in Russian)Inbusiness.kz · 2024-06-05
- Zholdasov: 9 inspections of ERG companies in two years (in Russian)Forbes.kz · 2022-12-07
- ERG invests 19 bn tenge in Pavlodar's environmental protection (in Russian)Forbes.kz · 2021-12-14
- Aksu ferroalloy plant fined 855 mln tenge for excess emissions (in Russian)NewTimes.kz · 2025-06-13
Connected cases
- Kazakhstan's two-billion-tree programme Kazakhstan · 2020–2026
- Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (Kazakhstan) (Public authority) — here: Gave Kazzinc's share of Ust-Kamenogorsk emissions; there: Runs the programme; reports planting and survival figures
- Government of Kazakhstan (Government) — here: Presented emission cuts and investment pledges; there: Prime Minister's criticism; funding
- Semey Ormany forest fire, Kazakhstan Kazakhstan · 2023–2026
- Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (Kazakhstan) (Public authority) — here: Gave Kazzinc's share of Ust-Kamenogorsk emissions; there: Responsible ministry; announced the damage valuation
- Government of Kazakhstan (Government) — here: Presented emission cuts and investment pledges; there: Funded firefighting equipment and pay rises
- Almaty CHP-2 coal-to-gas conversion, Kazakhstan Kazakhstan · 2017–2026
- Samruk-Kazyna (Public authority) — here: Holds 29.8% of Kazzinc; there: Guarantor of the ADB loan
- Badila produced-water spill into the Nya Pendé river (2018) and the UK National Contact Point's Glencore statement Chad · 2018–2024
- Glencore (Company) — here: Holds 69.61% of Kazzinc; there: Owner of the operator until June 2022; respondent (Glencore UK Ltd)
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- Government of Kazakhstan (Government) — here: Presented emission cuts and investment pledges; there: Lessor of Baikonur
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- Government of Kazakhstan (Government) — here: Presented emission cuts and investment pledges; there: Host state; fieldwork and security forces
- Eskom advances tied to Tegeta coal mine purchase, South African inquiry finds South Africa · 2015–2016
- Glencore (Company) — here: Holds 69.61% of Kazzinc; there: Seller of the Optimum coal mine
- Glencore settles bribery and market manipulation charges in US, UK, Brazil Multiple countries · 2007–2022
- Glencore (Company) — here: Holds 69.61% of Kazzinc; there: Admitted bribery and market manipulation charges (2022)
- Karachaganak oil arbitration and the sulphur-fine reports (Kazakhstan) Kazakhstan · date not stated
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- Government of Kazakhstan (Government) — here: Presented emission cuts and investment pledges; there: Ministries of Ecology and Energy
- Kashagan gas flaring: KZT 134.2 billion damage order (2014) and KZT 3.6 billion award (2025) Kazakhstan · 2013–2025
- Government of Kazakhstan (Government) — here: Presented emission cuts and investment pledges; there: Party to the confidential December 2014 agreement (Minister of Energy)
- Kazakhstan plans saiga antelope cull as population recovers Kazakhstan · 2023
- Government of Kazakhstan (Government) — here: Presented emission cuts and investment pledges; there: Planned the cull
- Kolwezi forced evictions (Cité Gécamines, DRC) Democratic Republic of the Congo · 2016–2023
- Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) (Company) — here: Parent of Kazchrome and Aluminium of Kazakhstan; there: Mining group named in the report; largest shareholder is the government of Kazakhstan
- Pilbara Minerals' profit fell sharply as lithium prices slumped; Li-Cycle went bankrupt Australia · 2024–2025
- Glencore (Company) — here: Holds 69.61% of Kazzinc; there: acquirer of Li-Cycle assets
- Proton-M crash at Baikonur, 2 July 2013: Kazakhstan’s KZT 13.69bn damage claim against Russia Kazakhstan · 2013–2016
- Government of Kazakhstan (Government) — here: Presented emission cuts and investment pledges; there: Pursued the claim through intergovernmental channels
- Sary-Shagan test range lease to Russia: rent, a 1992–1996 compensation clause and an ecological commission Kazakhstan · 1992–2016
- Government of Kazakhstan (Government) — here: Presented emission cuts and investment pledges; there: Lessor
- Semipalatinsk test site: measured contamination, land reallocation and the Nuclear Safety Zone Kazakhstan · 1949–2026
- Government of Kazakhstan (Government) — here: Presented emission cuts and investment pledges; there: Reallocates test-site land; funds the Nuclear Safety Zone
- Semipalatinsk test site: state compensation to residents under Kazakhstan’s 1992 law Kazakhstan · 1949–2025
- Government of Kazakhstan (Government) — here: Presented emission cuts and investment pledges; there: Legislator and payer of compensation under the 1992 law
- The Metals Company deep-sea nodule mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (NOAA permit route) International waters (Pacific Ocean) · 2011
- Glencore (Company) — here: Holds 69.61% of Kazzinc; there: Holder of a right to half of NORI-area nickel and copper