Events by Facilities
We have implemented and have been successfully operating for many years a corporate Environmental Management System. As part of this process, a system of internal auditors was created, methodological documentation was developed for all services and divisions, and appropriate additions were introduced into employee job descriptions, as well as into regulations for branches and departments.
Recently, the company conducted a recertification audit of its environmental management system for compliance with the requirements of MC ISO 14001:2015 by the qualified certification body TUV NORD. Based on the results of the audit, the environmental management system of HTS Exploration Ltd was recognized as effective, and a certificate of conformity was issued for a multi-year period. This confirms that in addition to compliance with the mandatory requirements stipulated by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the company undertakes additional obligations to meet international standards, purposefully invests significant financial resources in achieving its environmental goals, and continuously improves production standards.
Previously, one of the major challenges in developing licensed fields of HTS Exploration Ltd was the utilization of large volumes of associated petroleum gas and reducing emissions from gas combustion at the capacities of the Zhanazhol gas processing plant available at the time. With the phased commissioning of a new Zhanazhol oil and gas processing complex, implemented within the framework of a national development initiative, the company significantly increased the level of gas processing to over 98% of the produced volume. Historically, prior to the company’s involvement, the share of associated gas disposal was substantially lower.
The Company continues to implement a comprehensive program for the development of associated and natural gas processing at its field and production facilities, aimed at significantly reducing gas flaring volumes. This initiative is a continuation of extensive work carried out over the years and demonstrates the scale of the company’s environmental protection efforts, including several key infrastructure and processing projects.
Among notable initiatives, a booster compressor station, a deep gas purification unit (DGPU), and a vital section of the Zhanazhol – KS-13 gas pipeline were commissioned as part of efforts to bring commercial gas volumes from the Zhanazhol field into the Bukhara-Ural pipeline network. This development enabled the supply of high-quality gas both to local consumers and to southern regions of Kazakhstan.
The primary types of waste generated at HTS Exploration Ltd’s production facilities include drilling waste, oil-contaminated soil, spent alkaline solutions, municipal solid waste, and others. The company maintains comprehensive documentation and oversight of waste generation, while specialized contractors handle waste disposal services. Drilling contractors engaged by HTS Exploration Ltd have transitioned to a pitless waste collection method, using concrete and metal containers to store residues for complete disposal. A dedicated oil-contaminated soil recycling plant has also been constructed and commissioned by the company.
Special attention is consistently given to the management of household and municipal waste. HTS Exploration Ltd operates its own solid waste landfill with a substantial annual capacity, located in the rotational camp of Zhanazhol. Adjustments to the Environmental Code have enhanced waste separation practices at field sites, resulting in widespread deployment of plastic and recyclable waste containers, and regulated transfer of sorted waste to licensed disposal entities.
To strengthen environmental stewardship and increase employee involvement in ecological initiatives, the company organizes annual two-month environmental campaigns. These campaigns, involving all divisions of the company, include a range of activities aimed at improving the ecological condition of operational areas.
– Organizing and executing cleanup operations, removal of debris and dead trees, and improvement of access roads and sidewalks;
– Beautification of designated areas, including rotational camps at Ashchisay and Zhanazhol, exploration zones, and river floodplains, as well as the elimination of unauthorized landfills;
During these ecological campaigns, a wide scope of restoration and cleanup work is completed. Banners and billboards are installed or refreshed, green spaces are planted, and facilities such as production zones, sanitary protection areas, fences, water systems, and sewer systems are repaired or maintained. Additionally, land reclamation efforts are implemented to support environmental sustainability.