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Eastern Caspian
47
Environment and Security
such hollows were used as waste ponds
for evaporating associated water, filling up
with oil residues, surface-active agents and
heavy metals. These water sources are con-
sequently no longer usable and the popula-
tion must rely on mains water, tanker deliv-
eries or supplies from desalinization plants.
The Turkmenbashy refinery and marine ter-
minal, with annual capacity of 10 million
tonnes, were significant sources of oil pol-
lution from the 1940s to 1980s due to their
primitive treatment systems and poor envi-
ronmental practices. Large amounts of waste
oil and polluted water were discharged into
Saymonov Bay, which now contains more
than 16 million cubic metres of a mixture of
hydrocarbons, chlorine-organic compounds,
heavy metals and phenols (Barsuk 2007).
Evidence of previously severe oil pollution re-
mains in the form of “asphalted paths” along
the beaches in Turkmenbashy Gulf. Recon-
struction of the refinery and improvements to
oil extraction practice have reduced oil pol-
lution of the bay and the waters of the Cas-
pian, but it still exceeds permissible limits
due to inefficient wastewater treatment and
the legacy of previous pollution. The nearby
area serves as a local tourist attraction due
to ease of access and proximity to the city
49
.
In other parts of the Caspian, also potentially
attractive for tourism, oil contamination af-
fects areas near terminals.
The growing cargo traffic in the Caspian re-
gion, especially transportation of oil by sea,
is also increasing environmental risks. Acci-
dents or discharge of contaminated ballast
waters can harm the marine environment,
and require constant monitoring by the au-
thorities and interstate bodies
50
.
Not only active oil extraction, but also aban-
doned wells represent a risk for livelihoods in
the region. Experts estimate that leakage from
abandoned and flooded oil wells and other
seepage significantly contribute to overall oil
pollution in the Caspian (CEP 2002). Fluctuat-
ing sea levels and wave surges have flooded
oil wells, particularly in the flat coastal areas of
Mangystau province, Kazakhstan, causing oil
spills as recently as the winters of 2001 and
2003. The Kazakh authorities reacted to this
threat by identifying the largest abandoned oil
wells, which exceed 150 in number with more
than half located in the flooded zone. How-
ever the shortage of funds hinders progress
and only about 30 priority wells were secured
in 2004–6. In Turkmenistan oilfields situated
near the shore of the Caspian Sea have been
partly flooded, for example in the north-
ern Cheleken peninsula and at Kenar which
serves as a transfer base for oil delivered to
the Turkmenbashy sea port and refinery.
In large-scale onshore oil extraction, the
use of outdated technologies in the past
had a significant environmental impact, with
a corresponding effect on livelihoods. This
is particularly apparent at Uzen and Senek
in Kazakhstan.
In spite of clean-up efforts at Uzen and
other oil-polluted sites in Kazakhstan, with
more than 180 000 tonnes of waste oil ex-
tracted and recycled in 2001–7, the extent
of historical pollution is decreasing slowly. A
similar situation prevails in Turkmenistan es-
pecially at Gum Dag and other locations. Oil
leakages and accidents continue to pose a
threat to the environment (CEP 2007e).
Lack of research makes it difficult to estab-
lish clear links between these sources of
pollution and health problems. Nevertheless
the deterioration in public health, and partic-
ularly the increased incidence of respiratory
diseases and cancer can be partly attributed
to the impacts of air pollution. In 2005 there
were three times more respiratory diseases
among teenagers in Atyrau province than
in 2001. Health authorities also reported a
threefold increase in neuropathy problems
(Granovsky 2003; Akhmetov 2006).
There has been additional public concern
since large petrochemical plants and a tech-
nology park started operations near Atyrau,