Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Environmental Studies Endorsed

The Ministry of Environment has endorsed studies confirming TCO's safe handling and open storage of sulfur following a series of studies undertaken by the Interagency Coordination Council and various independent scientific institutions chosen by representatives of the council.

The summary of reports affirms that Tengiz's's open sulfur storage results in insignificant environmental impact. Some of its key findings include:

• Tengiz sulfur storage is conducted in accordance with Republic of Kazakhstan regulations and consistent with international practices
• No impact is made on nearest communities whatsoever
• Tengiz sulfur is of high purity and meets product standards (GOST 127.1)
• No measureable impact is found on groundwater, air or soil
  • Sulfur content in water and soil samples do not differ from background levels
  • Sulfur dust levels are well below regulatory limits
• Sulfur dust is to be mitigated with continued adherence to safety rules, which are established to protect sulfur personnel at TCO operations area
• Formation of sulfur dioxide from block sulfur is impossible in normal operating conditions
• Mercaptan compounds are not found in Tengiz block sulfur

To read more, see Inside Sulfur