Astana, 19 October. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has published a new version of its methodology for calculating how much sulphur oil producers may store in the open; it no longer contains the explicit requirement to place sulphur "taking into account sufficient area, capacity, estimated period and compliance with the operating conditions of sulphur pads" (BES.media, BES.media).
The other conditions remain. Projects must still include data on the area of the sites, their design and actual capacity, structure and condition; limits are set in the environmental permit for each calendar year, and the calculation takes into account how much sulphur is produced, how air and soil are polluted and how the land will be restored. The ban on placing sulphur when the environmental load reaches a critical or catastrophic level has also been kept. The order takes effect ten calendar days after its official publication (BES.media).
Sulphur pads are open sites where sulphur removed from oil and gas during hydrogen sulphide treatment is stored. The volume of such storage is the core of a long-running dispute between environmental regulators and North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC), the operator of the Kashagan field: exceeding the permitted volumes was the basis for a fine of 2.3 trillion tenge, which the company is contesting (BES.media).
The dispute dates back to 2022, when the ecology department of Atyrau region reported excess storage of more than 1.2 million tonnes of sulphur. In June 2023 a court partly sided with NCOC, but in February 2024 the appeal court found the inspection lawful and ruled that annual storage limits could not be counted cumulatively. The new methodology keeps the limits for each calendar year; the order itself does not mention NCOC and does not explain whether the new wording could affect the dispute or whom it would benefit (BES.media).
Background: In August 2025 an Astana court overturned the regulators' order over procedural violations; the agency corrected the shortcomings and again fined NCOC 2.3 trillion tenge. In July 2026 the Justice Ministry said the Atyrau regional court had upheld the fine, while NCOC and its international shareholders are challenging the collection in arbitration; in September the enforcement proceedings were suspended (BES.media). Under the court ruling, the consortium was due to pay by 20 July 2026 (Tengrinews).
List of sources used: BES.media, BES.media, Tengrinews
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
