20-fold excess of hydrogen sulfide was recorded in the air of Atyrau, 10 April 2023

[Summary translation prepared by Business and Human Rights Resource Centre]

In Atyrau, more than twenty-fold excess of hydrogen sulfide was registered in the air, the state agency Kazinform reports... According to the norm, there should be no hydrogen sulfide in the atmosphere. On Saturday, excess of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur was registered in the atmosphere of Atyrau. Atmospheric air control posts recorded an excess in all microdistricts of the regional center...

In Atyrau, since the beginning of April, people have been suffocating from the smog that has covered the city. Officials attributed the smoke to the reeds that had been burning since April 2 in the natural park near the city...

But the residents believe that the main reason is industrial enterprises that poison the air...

The Minister of Ecology of Kazakhstan, Zulfiya Suleimenova, said on social networks that the reason for the poor health of the townspeople is not the burning reeds, but the environmental situation for which industrial enterprises are to be blamed for, including the Atyrau oil refinery, which, according to official information, is expected to be inspected by the prosecutor's office in the near future.

Last year, the Atyrau refinery paid a fine of $11,000 for environmental violations. The plant is part of the national company "KazMunayGas".