New environment code requires cross-industry collaboration
“Atameken” hosted 20th meeting of ore mining and metallurgical industry Committee.
Executive director of the Republican Association of Mining and Metallurgical Enterprises, president of the Union of Producers and Exporters of Kazakhstan, N.Radostovets, Atameken vice chairman Eldos Ramazanov, industry and business association representatives took part in the meeting.
The first issue on the agenda was the work plan for 2018 that concerns urgent industry issues: ecological problems, secondary metallurgy development problems, coal mining, human resourcing, preparation to the World mining congress, new environment code project, transportation development and geology.
“During the last year we often raised the question on Kazakhstan content development in subsoil users’ procurements concerning VAT payment for wagons etc. Nowadays there is no consolidated opinion on these issues. That’s why I suggest to enhance cross industry collaboration, based on statistics to make the right well-balanced decision for all market participants”- said Eldos Ramazanov.
Nikolay Radostovets supported the suggestion and offered AGMP to come up with an initiative of ongoing movement towards constructive dialogue with other industry associations.
Sectoral Council for Environment and Industrial Safety department director of AGMP, Talgat Temirhanov reported on ecological legislation development.
“AGMP supposes that many ecological norms and approaches for industrial companies obsoleted and block the realization of conservation measures”- said Temirhanov.
Obsoleted measures in Environment code are aimed at budgetary funds refill and don’t solve urgent ecological problems in regions. For example, according to AGMP information, for environment protection events in Karaganda region it is sent only 0,7% funds from payments of emissions and ecological penalties. In Kostanay region it is 3% and in Pavlodar region it is 3,2%.
“In these circumstances it may be concluded that it is in the interests of local authorities not to solve ecological problems but to refill regional budget”- he said.
Environment taxation and payments regulation in RK doesn’t provide the opportunity of costs compensation for environment protection events- installation costs on waste treatment plants, filters, environmental emissions monitoring devices, new expensive technologies implementation to reduce the ecological footprint.
“Ecology issue will be the main question of 2018. I suppose that it’s enough using ecological payments as fiscal payments. I suggest to approve the work plan and to make it work. First of all, it’s important to reconsider budgetary code”- told Nikolay Radostovets.
“Atameken” vice president also said that the environment issue is really urgent for many industries.
“Environment issue was raised in the oil industry committee. Oil sector focused on the payments and penalties. It’s important to bring domestic ecological legislation closer to the standards of OECD. I suggest to collaborate with companies in oil and gas industry”- suggested Eldos Ramazanov.
“Atameken” raised the question of Environment code changes in the framework of legislation concerning Doing business project (in Mazhilis).
“Atameken” ecology department suggested amendment to article 301, to delay construction and food waste dumping ban at the site. As you know this amendment will come into force on January 1 2019 and the companies won’t be able to export construction and food waste but for recycling we don’t have infrastructure. I ask you to support “Atameken” initiative on negotiations with the ministry of the national economy RK and Mazhilis. We suppose that the ban will block companies activity”- said “Atameken” executive secretary, Kuanysh Baltabaev.
The participants supported the idea, saying that it’s important to participate in this negotiation and approved the work plan for 2018.
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