The process of identifying, researching, describing, and evaluating potential significant environmental impacts during the implementation of the planned activity, which includes the following stages:

• post-project analysis of actual impacts in the implementation of the planned activity, if the need for its implementation is determined;
• consideration of the application for the proposed activity in order to determine its compliance with the requirements, as well as in cases provided for by the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, screening the impacts of the planned activity;
• Making an opinion on the results of the environmental impact assessment and its accounting;
• assessment of the quality of the report on possible impacts;
• Defining the scope of environmental impact assessment;
• preparation of a report on possible impacts.

The construction and ongoing operation of production facilities and other facilities with other types of environmental interference, such as through subsoil use operations, as well as the introduction of significant changes in such activities, are understood to be the planned activity of individuals and legal entities.

In accordance with the precautionary principle (Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environmental Protection and Development of the United Nations, 2009), as well as the specifications of the environmental management system of Zhanaozen Oil Refinery and the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is carried out at the planning stage of each project to identify the environmental and other consequences of the project. Each project also undergoes public hearings during the design phase with participation from administrative, state, and regulatory bodies, research organizations, public associations, the local population, and the media.

Over the past 2 years, the following public hearings have been held by Zhanaozen Oil Refinery:

• Pre-EIA to the feasibility study “Construction of a hydrogen production plant”;
• Pre-EIA to the feasibility study “Construction of a liquefied petroleum gas purification plant”;
• EIA to the Project “Reconstruction of the building for repair of instrumentation devices with the construction of an extension for the repair of control and shut-off valves;
• Pre-EIA to the feasibility study “Reconstruction of the diesel fuel hydrotreating unit with the integration of the dewaxing unit”;
• Pre-EIA to the feasibility study “Automated installation of clock loading with transport infrastructure facilities”.

We give access to EIA projects to everyone who is interested, and we accept and log suggestions and comments. Throughout the course of the project, all EIA projects of the Zhanaozen Oil Refinery are available to the interested public on the official websites of the enterprise and of local authorities and are subject to state environmental expertise.