Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASTANA2473
2008-12-18 16:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN ESTH UPDATE, NOVEMBER 2008
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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
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highly polluting and outdated technology and equipment, except for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
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