East Kazakhstan fines Vostoktsvetmet over 100 million tenge for emissions

October 2, 2026 at 12:35 PM2 min

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The specialized environmental prosecutor's office of East Kazakhstan region fined Vostoktsvetmet LLP more than 100 million tenge for exceeding technological emission standards. The fine followed an unscheduled inspection by the regional ecology department after prosecutors found prolonged inaction in eliminating the consequences of subsoil use at the Yubileyno-Snegirikhinskoye deposit. The company was also ordered to eliminate the consequences and ensure systematic control over environmental measures.

Key Facts

Vostoktsvetmet LLP was fined more than 100 million tenge under Part 1 of Article 328 of the Code of Administrative Offences for exceeding technological emission standards.
The fine was imposed after an unscheduled inspection by the East Kazakhstan Region Ecology Department, triggered by a prosecutor's oversight act.
The enterprise was ordered to eliminate the consequences of subsoil use and ensure systematic control over environmental measures.
In summer 2026, the Karaguzhikha River turned bright orange, and inspectors found numerous mine water discharges from the former mine site, with contamination of both water and soil.
A court decision of 17 April 2024 declared the mine liquidation act illegal and cancelled it, and the appellate instance upheld the decision.

The Fine and Inspection

The specialized environmental prosecutor's office of East Kazakhstan Region identified prolonged inaction by Vostoktsvetmet LLP in eliminating the consequences of subsoil use at the Yubileyno-Snegirikhinskoye deposit in Glubokovsky district. Following a prosecutor's oversight act, the East Kazakhstan Region Ecology Department conducted an unscheduled inspection of the enterprise. As a result, the company was held administratively liable under Part 1 of Article 328 of the Code of Administrative Offences for exceeding technological emission standards. The fine imposed exceeded 100 million tenge. The enterprise was also issued an order to eliminate the consequences of subsoil use and ensure systematic control over environmental measures.

Environmental Damage at the Deposit

After ore mining ceased at the Yubileyno-Snegirikhinskoye deposit, mine waters began to flow to the surface, entering a stream and then the Malaya Karaguzhikha, Karaguzhikha, and Uba rivers. Laboratory tests showed exceedances of maximum permissible concentrations of heavy metals, including zinc, cadmium, iron, and manganese, by up to 83,000 times. The environmental prosecutor's inspection found that technologies were violated during mine liquidation, some reclamation works were not performed, and the deposit territory was not brought into proper condition. In summer 2026, the Karaguzhikha River turned bright orange, and inspectors again found numerous mine water discharges from the former mine site, with contamination of both water and soil.

Company Profile and Recent Incidents

Vostoktsvetmet LLP is part of the KAZ Minerals group and is engaged in mining and processing of copper ore and other minerals in East Kazakhstan. In May 2026, two fatal accidents occurred at the enterprise's Artemyevskaya mine within one month. On 30 May, a worker died after a rock mass collapse, and work at the site was halted and an investigation began. On 9 May, a mechanic of the dust-ventilation service died after falling from a height of about nine metres during repair work.