BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26
Trend:
A project on digging sea shipping canals in the Caspian Sea may lead to irreversible environmental consequences, MP of Kazakhstan Dusenbay Turganov said, Trend reports with reference to the Kazakh media.
Turganov made the remark voicing the MP request from the Nur Otan faction to Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar at the plenary session of the Parliament.
"According to the available information, in 2021, North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC) seeks to start digging shipping canals in the Caspian Sea to ensure the logistics of the Kashagan oil project," Turganov said.
“In line with this project, several navigable canals with a length of 56 km, a width of 80 to 115 meters, 10 reversal basins with a diameter of 325 to 380 meters will be laid,” the MP added.
“It is planned to remove more than 18.5 million cubic meters of soil from the bottom of the Caspian Sea on an area of about 29 million square meters. In turn, according to the adopted Environmental Code, the northern part of the Caspian Sea is classified as a state protected area and has a special status and restrictions in the use of natural resources and engineering and construction work,” the official said.
A special mode of use, aimed at protecting water and fish resources, as well as ensuring the sustainable existence of the ecosystem, has been determined, he noted.
"The water area of the North-East Caspian is a unique ecosystem that ensures the reproduction of fish resources and biodiversity of the western regions. Therefore, a project to dig shipping canals in the Caspian Sea may lead to irreversible environmental consequences," said Turganov.
