PRESS RELEASE Public and Environmental groups reject the Caspian Sea dredging projects

PRESS RELEASE

Public and environmental groups reject the Caspian Sea dredging project

June 10, 2025, Atyrau

The proposed dredging project in the Caspian Sea, initiated by North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC), operator of the Kashagan oil field, has failed to gain the support of the public or the environmental community.

At public hearings held on May 22 in Damba village, Atyrau region, experts and civic activists delivered sharp criticism of the project. According to specialists, the dredging operations would cause a significant increase in underwater noise levels, posing a severe threat to biodiversity, in particularly endangered sturgeon species. In addition, the project’s use of artificial lighting would disrupt the biorhythms of zooplankton, a key component of the marine food chain.

Environmental groups also cited procedural violations during the hearings. According to Article 73, Clause 16 of Kazakhstan’s Environmental Code, the protocol (minutes) of a public hearing must be signed by both the chair and the secretary, provided there are no outstanding comments or objections. However, many questions raised by environmental representatives left unanswered. Moreover, the final hearing minutes included responses that were not provided during the actual hearing, calling into question their credibility.

The Department of Ecology of the Atyrau Region has echoed these concerns by withholding approval for the project.

"Regarding the project ‘Development of Kashagan Field Facilities. Offshore Complex. Maintenance Dredging,’ the state environmental review has issued a reasoned comment. The project remains under review, and all submitted concerns—including those from the public—will be considered in the final decision," the Department of Ecology stated.

The hearings documented a lack of consent from both the public and relevant authorities. As a result, the project has not received legitimate approval and cannot proceed without substantial revision and resolution of identified concerns.

Following the hearings, environmental activists reported receiving phone calls from individuals identifying themselves as NCOC representatives, offering to meet privately "for an hour" to discuss the project. These individual outreach efforts are being interpreted as an attempt by the company to influence stakeholders privately.

"We view this as a pressure tactic. Instead of engaging in an honest public dialogue and addressing the project’s flaws, the company is attempting to negotiate with activists one-on-one. This undermines trust in the public consultation process and violates the principles of transparency and openness," said Galina Chernova, co-founder of the global environmental movement Save the Caspian Sea and Executive Director of the Center for Environmental and Legal Initiatives ‘Globus.’

The environmental community emphasizes that any attempt to exert pressure or lawful permitting procedures is unacceptable. Public hearings are not a mere formality but a vital mechanism for protecting both community and environmental interests. Given the deteriorating ecological state of the Caspian Sea, it is specifically critical that decisions reflect the voices of local residents and environmental experts.

In light of the above, environmental groups are calling for:

1. Full consideration of the comments raised, with a mandatory revision of project materials to incorporate the feedback provided during the public hearings.
2. A new round of public hearings based on the updated project documentation.
3. Suspension of the issuance of a positive state environmental review until all violations are addressed and complete answers are provided to all outstanding questions.

Save the Caspian Sea urges the public and media to pay close attention to this issue and to ensure compliance with environmental legislation and ethical standards governing corporate engagement with civil society.