The Ecology Department for Atyrau Region has filed materials in court against the Atyrau Oil Refinery (ANPZ). The grounds for the unscheduled inspection were numerous complaints from local residents concerned about air quality, infohub.kz reports.
During the inspection, ecologists recorded major emergency releases. Due to incidents at the combined sulfur production unit (KUP S) and the catalytic cracking unit (UKK) on August 25, as well as from September 2 to 7, 2026, more than 100 tons of gas were flared at the plant. Unplanned shutdowns and repairs were also registered at the enterprise.
Instrumental monitoring of industrial emissions showed exceedances of standards for carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide. Violations were recorded at the following facilities:
the CCR catalytic reforming unit with a benzene extraction block (part of aromatic hydrocarbon production);
thermal and electric power generation;
the KUGDB-2 light gasoline isomerization unit (title 3211).
Inspectors also found that for certain process furnaces of the ELOU-AT-2 and ELOU-AVT-3 units, as well as tanks of the delayed coking unit (UZK), no emission calculations had been carried out and no standards had been set.
In addition, the plant violated requirements for the operation of the automated monitoring system and failed to implement emission reduction measures during adverse weather conditions.
Since ANPZ is included in the register of investors, the initiation of administrative cases was legally coordinated with the prosecutor – permission was obtained on October 1, 2026, after which the materials were sent to court. Separately, the inspection results were forwarded to law enforcement agencies to check for signs of a criminal offense.
Earlier, Kursiv wrote that amid questions about air quality in Atyrau, Aydyn Begimbekov, a regional inspector of the Office of the Government of Kazakhstan, paid a working visit to the Atyrau Oil Refinery (ANPZ).
He was shown the plant's production facilities and evaporation ponds, and was briefed on measures to reduce the plant's environmental impact.
Also, in August 2026, it became known that a fire occurred at ANPZ's treatment facilities. Despite the incident, the enterprise continued to operate normally.
Recall that the Atyrau Oil Refinery (ANPZ LLP) is 99% owned by the national company KazMunayGas and is considered one of Kazakhstan's three leading oil refineries.
It was built during the Great Patriotic War and commissioned in 1945. ANPZ's design refining capacity is 5.5 million tons per year, with a refining depth of up to 88.8%.
The enterprise produces over 30 (including markings) types of commercial petroleum products: hydrocarbon gases, liquefied, fuel; automotive and diesel fuels of environmental classes K4 and K5, jet fuels, vacuum gas oil, heating oil, fuel oil, petroleum cokes, technical sulfur, etc.
Today, the plant is Kazakhstan's only producer of petrochemical products – benzene and paraxylene.