KAZAKHSTAN ESTH UPDATE, NOVEMBER 2008

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002473 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON SENV ENRG EPET KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN ESTH UPDATE, NOVEMBER 2008 ASTANA 00002473 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. The information for this update on environmental, science, technology, and health issues in Kazakhstan is drawn primarily from the Kazakhstani press and has not been verified. -- Enterprises Rated on Environmental Efficiency -- Amendments to the Environmental Code -- Expanded Environmental Monitoring of the Caspian -- Hepatitis Outbreak in Semey -- Animal Health Convention Ratified for WTO Accession -- President Views Koksaray Reservoir Construction Site -- KazSat-1 Lost For Good -- Space Program Budget Reduced ENTERPRISES RATED ON ENVIRONMENTAL EFFICIENCY ¶2. On November 21, Minister of Environmental Protection Nurlan Iskakov presented 2008 ratings of the environmental efficiency of 150 enterprises. The ratings are taken into account in issuing pollution permits. Ratings were first made in 2007 and covered 46 enterprises. AMENDMENTS TO ENVIROMENTAL CODE ¶3. On November 28, Vice Minister of Environmental Protection Alzhan Braliyev presented to parliament a package of proposed amendments to the environmental code. If adopted, the amendments, which are based on EU environmental standards, would restrict the importation of highly polluting and outdated technology and equipment, except for used cars. EXPANDED ENVIROMENTAL MONITORING OF THE CASPIAN ¶4. On November 4, Anargul Kalelova, Deputy Director General of KazHydroMet, announced her agency's plans to expand its environmental monitoring of the Caspian Sea. KazHydroMet currently monitors the Caspian from seven observation stations, but a new sea vessel, the "Tabigat," with an onboard laboratory, will help conduct surveys of water and air pollution and bottom sediments. Kalelova also said that the five Caspian littoral states intend to sign a multilateral agreement on joint environmental monitoring of the Caspian in the very near future. HEPATITIS OUTBREAK IN SEMEY ¶5. Interfax reported on November 6 that five secondary schools in Semey, East Kazakhstan oblast, were closed for quarantine due to an outbreak of hepatitis A. Twenty-four children were diagnosed with the disease. In response, a public health campaign was launched to vaccinate 1,500 school children. CONVENTION RATIFIED ON ANIMAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION ¶6. On December 4, the Senate ratified the 1924 international convention establishing the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Interfax described ratification of the OIE convention as necessary for Kazakhstan's accession to the World Trade Organization. Ratification will help bring Kazakhstani veterinary legislation into compliance with international standards. PRESIDENT VIEWS KOKSARAY RESERVOIR CONSTRUCTION SITE ¶7. On November 11, President Nazarbayev visited the construction site of the Koksaray water reservoir in South Kazakhstan oblast. The reservoir is designed to protect the local population from spring flooding from the Syr-Darya River and to store water for crop irrigation. Construction is expected to be completed in 2012. It is anticipated that the reservoir will have the capacity to hold approximately two to three billion cubic meters of water. KAZSAT-1 LOST FOR GOOD ¶8. Kazakhstan's National Space Agency officially reported the loss of KazSat-1, the first Kazakhstani telecom satellite, on November ¶26. This announcement followed a claim by Russia's Khrunichev State Research and Production Center, which built the satellite, that ASTANA 00002473 002.2 OF 002 KazSat-1 had been repaired. The National Space Agency alleged that Khrunichev "attempted to swindle Kazakhstan into accepting a non-operational satellite." Despite the failure of KazSat-1, Khrunichev is continuing to complete construction of KazSat-2. SPACE PROGRAM BUDGET REDUCED ¶9. On November 25, Minister of Economy and Budget Planning Bakhyt Sultanov reported that the budget for the national space program would be cut in half. It had previously been expected that approximately one billion dollars would be allocated for the space program in the 2009-11 budget. HOAGLAND