Almost 9,000 tonnes of oil waste on the territory of the village of Zhetibay in the Karakiyansky district have been recognised as ownerless property and transferred to the district's communal ownership. Now the further remediation of the contaminated site depends on carrying out research and identifying a source of funding.
WHAT HAPPENED
According to the Department of Ecology for the Mangystau Region, the problem relates to a land plot with an area of 6.0790 ha, which was previously leased to Uralenergostroy LLP for 49 years for the processing of oil waste and the production of road-building materials. The company processed around 8,000 tonnes of waste, but subsequently failed to properly fulfil its contractual obligations.
The court invalidated the decision to grant the plot and the lease agreement. The company was also ordered to pay the state 651.7 million tenge in compensation for environmental damage.
WHY THE WASTE WAS RECOGNISED AS OWNERLESS
By a separate court decision, the company was obliged to demolish the structures on the territory, remove its property and clear the plot of spilled oil products and waste. The decision entered into force and was submitted for enforcement to private bailiffs.
It was not possible to fully comply with the requirements. The enforcement document was returned due to the impossibility of recovering the debt from the debtor. After that, the approximately 9,000 tonnes of oil waste remaining on the territory were recognised as ownerless property and placed on the balance sheet of the relevant district department.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NEXT
To restore the territory, laboratory tests are required, as well as design and survey work. These are necessary to determine the further mechanism for remediating the contaminated land.
At the same time, there are currently no funds in the district budget for this work. The possibility of transferring the site to regional communal ownership is now being considered.
