As of the end of 2022, the total amount of pollutants in the Fund group amounted to 608.7 thousand tons, 1.1 % decrease (615.3 thousand tons) in relation to 2021. GRI 305-7
The electricity and heat production sector accounts for 59 % of pollutant emissions (or 358.1 thousand tons), which is 0.08 % higher than the level of 2021 (357.7 thousand tons in 2021). The specific emissions of pollutants in this sector are decreasing annually: by the end of 2022, 2 % decrease was achieved as compared to the indicator of 2021 due to growth of the share of renewable energy generation and hydroelectric power plants, gas HPP-1 (per unit of electricity generated).
In the oil and gas production and refining sector, at the end of 2022, the total amount of pollutants amounted to 120.6 thousand tons, having increased by 9.4 % (110.2 thousand tons) since 2021. The share of this sector from the Fund is 20 % in 2022. Increase in pollutant emissions in the oil and gas production and processing sector in 2022 is due to increased energy consumption in view of the entry into the nominal mode of Kalamkas GTPP after major repairs, as well as increase in oil refining by 20 % for Petrokazakhstanoil Products LLP.
The gas transportation sector accounts for 20 % of the Fund pollutant emissions (in 2021-23 %). The volume of pollutants amounted to 123 thousand tons, having decreased by 11.4 % (139 thousand tons) since 2021.
The rail transport sector accounts for 0.8 % of the Fund pollutant emissions. By the end of 2022, emissions decreased by 18.7 % from 6.4 thousand tons to 5.1 thousand tons as compared to 2021. The annual reduction of emissions is achieved through the introduction of new diesel locomotives, the purchase of new passenger cars with combined heating, the transfer of boiler rooms from solid to gaseous fuel and the connection of heating of industrial buildings to electric heat supply.
The mining and processing sector accounts for less than 1 % of the Fund pollutant emissions. By the end of 2022, the total amount of pollutants in the sector amounted to 1.4 thousand tons, 5 % decrease as compared to the indicator of 2021 (1.5 thousand tons) due to the equipping of emission sources with additional installations for cleaning gaseous substances and improving the efficiency of existing gas cleaning equipment, and a reduction in production volumes.
The share of pollutants in the remaining Portfolio Companies of the Fund is less than 1 %. GRI 305-7
To reduce the impact on the environment, funds are allocated annually for its protection. In 2022, total expenses and investments in environmental protection amounted to KZT56 284 million, which is 1.8 % increase in expenditures for 2021.
Further growth areas
We plan to continue implementing measures aimed at reducing emissions of pollutants: modernization of technological equipment, introduction of energy-saving technologies, optimization of heat generation and consumption, as well as the development of our own low-carbon generation sources, as well as the use of the best available techniques (clean coal technologies, as well as emission capture technologies).