EcoTech 2015: main ecology issues were discussed at the international level in Almaty

On September, 16-18, in Almaty, the Forum for Environmental Technologies, Waste Management, Industrial Water Treatment and Green Innovations – EcoTech 2015 was held.

The Forum began with a one-day conference “Strategic development of waste recycling sector in Kazakhstan”. Specialists discussed issues of reforming the waste management industry in light of developing changes and amendments to the legislation of the RK, the current state of waste management industry, extended producer responsibility and converting waste material into energy.

The Welcome Letter to the participants by Vladimir Shkolnik, the Minister of Energy of the RK, that was read out at the EcoTech 2015 opening ceremony, also highlighted the topicality of the raised issues: “Currently, the Concept realisation plan is under implementation in Kazakhstan, including practical measures for modernisation of waste management system and restriction of air pollution, increase of energy efficiency and energy saving, diversification of the energy “basket” through development of renewable energy sources. The Green Bridge ongoing partnership program, initiated by Kazakhstan, combines efforts of many countries in order to provide the green economic development in Central Asia and neighbouring countries. It implies the development of international cooperation, green technologies transfer, knowledge sharing and support of international financial organisations, development institutions and private sector.”

The EcoTech 2015 opening ceremony was attended by: the Director of the Department of Renewable Energy of the Ministry of Energy of the RK Aynur Sospanova; the Head of Waste Management Division of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management of the City of Astana Daniyar Brimzhanov; the Head of Balkhash-Alakol Basin Inspection on Water Resources Regulation and Protection of the Committee on Water Resources of the Ministry of Agriculture of the RK Serikaliy Mukatayev; the Ambassador of Latvia to the RK Jurijs Pogrebnaks; the special guest from the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egipt – Dr. Hemdan Ibrahem, the Director of the Department of Ecology and Industrial Safety, the Republic Association of Mining and Metallurgical Enterprises, Talgat Temirkhanov; the Executive Director of Kazakhstan Business Council for Sustainable Development Galina Artyukhina; the Executive Director of the Kazakhstan waste management association Vera Mustafina; the Deputy General Manager of the Department of Production Optimization of Safety Engineering and Environmental Protection of “Tengizchevroil” LLP Arman Sadirbayev and many others.

The Conference was visited by the delegation of the International Consortium Cleantech Cluster from the European Union. This Consortium is involved in the 3-year COOLSWEEP project funded by the European Union. The project focuses on the development of research and business opportunities for the stakeholders in the field of waste management and waste-to-energy technologies. The delegation included organisations and companies from Norway, Denmark, Austria, Italy, Spain and Latvia.

Also, the Exhibition and Conference was attended by participants of the 6th Central Asian Leadership Program on Environment for Sustainable Development, such as government, private sector and civil representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.

It is to be recalled that 33 companies from Germany, Holland, Denmark, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Taiwan and Czech Republic took part in the Exhibition. A group of companies from Latvia was represented at the CleanTech Latvia joint booth for the first time.

The EcoTech 2015 exposition presented products and services on vehicle tires recycling, waste containers and systems for the raw material collection and sorting, water treatment and waste water purification equipment, micro-, ultra- and nanofiltrational membranes and modules, materials and equipment for air purification, biogas production and use, environmental risk mapping, the LPG equipment installation and many more.

The Silver Partner of the Exhibition and Conference EcoTech 2015, “Tengizchevroil” LLP, the leading company in oil and gas industry of Kazakhstan, presented its achievements in the field of environmental protection at its booth.

As a part of the business program of the Exhibition, the workshop “Environmental risk evaluation when oil spills” took place. The round table discussion “Problems of development of the industrial and municipal waste management industry” and the workshop “Best available technologies and international experience on efficient natural resource management in the enterprise. Best international practices of waste recycling and management” were held.

Organisers of EcoTech 2015 are Kazakhstani exhibition company “Iteca” and its partner, the international group of companies ITE Group Plc (UK), with support and participation of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty City Akimat, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management of Almaty, JSC “Zhasyl Damu”, the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan “Atameken”, the Republican Association of Mining and Metallurgical Enterprises (AGMP).

The business program partners: United Nations Development Program in Kazakhstan (UNDP), Kazakhstan Business Council for Sustainable Development (KBCSD), Kazakhstan waste management association “KazWaste, Center “Cooperation for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, Center for Sustainable Production and Consumption, Kazakhstan Petroleum Lawyers’ Association (KPLA), Central Asian Regional Ecological Center (CAREC). The Silver Partner of the Exhibition and Conference EcoTech 2015 is “Tengizchevroil” LLP.

Official website of the event www.ecotech.kz