The Seventh Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference Features EcoTech Exhibition of Green Technologies

In 2011, EcoTech, an annual exhibition usually held in Almaty, took place in Astana on 21-23 September as part of the Seventh Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference, an important event for Kazakhstan attended by representatives of 50 countries. The conference and the exhibition were held at the Independence Palace in Astana.

The Official Exhibition Opening Ceremony was attended by Nurgali Ashim, Minister of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Ján Kubiš, UN Deputy Secretary General, Executive Secretary of the UN European Economic Commission; and Olessya Somkina, EcoTech Project Director, Iteca LLP.

Welcoming EcoTech 2011 exhibitors and visitors, Mr. Ashim said: “The exhibition is a great platform to develop partnerships, establish new and maintain existing relationships, exchange experiences, and introduce new environment-friendly, or “green”, technologies and innovations”. Mr. Ashim also noted that at the 2012 World Summit for Sustainable Development, Kazakhstan would present the Green Bridge Astana Initiative’s Partnership Programme.

According to Mr. Kubiš, he was happy that the Environment for Europe Conference coincided with EcoTech 2011. During the next three days, delegates, representatives from the government, business and non-government sector would be discussing “green” economy and how to make an economy “green”. But we would not advance unless we tied up those grand ideas and plans with real steps and specific development. That is why it was critical that the conference delegates had an opportunity to visit the exhibition which presented the best “green” technologies and “green” innovations.

 

“We would be stuck in place unless our grand goals have been introduced in “green” economy, innovations and services. I would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and His Excellency the Minister for his effective connection of political and scientific components of our actions with specific applied work areas,” Mr. Kubiš said.

The exhibition featured commercial companies, associations, non-governmental and international organisations from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine, with 36 exhibitors in total.

The stands of water companies presented technologies for industrial and domestic sewage treatment, water treatment and water discharge; self-contained treatment units; units for making process and drinking water from well, river and sea water; industrial and household units for treatment, desalination and disinfection of natural water and sewage; loop-type water treatment systems; equipment for household, industrial, and storm water runoff treatment facilities; and drinking water treatment units.

 

The Green Innovations Sector featured Masat BV, which presented WayNet control and monitoring systems (wireless telemetry solutions) that can be used in the mining and oil industries, intelligent transportation systems, monitoring of municipal services, logistics, public security systems, labour protection and industrial safety, and social services. According to Masat BV representatives, the technology can form the basis of the Unified State Environment and Natural Resources Monitoring System of Kazakhstan.

 

OTC Network LLP participated in the exhibition for the first time to present comprehensive computer-aided environmental parameter monitoring systems. According to OTC Network LLP representatives, the company is the leader in Kazakhstan for the development and integration of automated monitoring and forecasting systems for weather phenomena, atmospheric pollution, water pollution, industrial emissions, and seismological, avalanche and torrential mud-and-debris flow events.

Germany’s EISENMANN Environmental Technology was another first-time exhibitor. It offered a full range of advanced environmentally-friendly engineering technologies, with plants and systems for used air purification, industrial water conditioning, wastewater treatment, waste disposal management, waste recycling, and biogas use.

ZVVZ-Enven Engineering, together with its partners, presented equipment for the treatment of waste gases from solid and gaseous pollutants, electrostatic precipitators, bag filters and other equipment for the pneumatic transport of bulk materials, air-conditioning and ventilation of nuclear power plants, climate control and ventilation of industrial facilities, mines, tunnels and subways. The company provides inspection and refurbishment of outdated gas-cleaning equipment.

 

TengizChevroil LLP (Kazakhstan), a participant in the Showcase of Industrial and Manufacturing Companies’ Environmental Programmes, is engaged in the development, production and marketing of oil and associated products, in line with the best international safety and environmental protection standards, according to Rzabek Artygaliyev, General Manager of TengizChevroil’s Government and Public Relations Department.

 

The domestic manufacturing sector was represented by such companies as KazGeoSintetika LLP (manufacture of advanced geosynthetics), Eikos LLP (one of the largest manufacturers of water treatment equipment), Membrane Technologies S.A. (industrial and domestic plants and units for purification, treatment, desalination and disinfection of natural water and sewage), Arystan Stepnogorsk Pipe Plant LLP (polyethylene pipe producer), VodEcoFilter (production of water treatment equipment), and Kazakhstan Rubber Recycling LLP (recycling of waste tires and rubber products, and production of rubber crumb, textile, metal and rubber products).

Another newcomer was KazFinService, a Finnish-Kazakh JV, specialising in design development, turnkey construction and delivery of equipment for domestic, industrial and storm water runoff treatment facilities, and drinking water treatment facilities.

 

Large international companies were represented by EnviroChemie GmbH of Germany, which incorporates enterprises engaged in industrial wastewater treatment and water treatment. In Russia, EnviroChemie GmbH has implemented more than 80 projects.

KST-Water, in addition to water treatment, wastewater treatment and water supply systems built using only the equipment of the world’s best manufacturers, presented equipment for greenhouses and irrigation systems.

An interesting trend at the exhibition was presented by Munai-Ecology Company through the use of the scientific potential of well-known research institutions and new technologies of such companies as BASF - The Chemical Company, Flottweg AG, Johann Rohrer GmbH, and PALL Corporation. The main areas of the company’s activities are improving the quality of Kazakhstan fuels, oily sludge processing, oil tank cleaning, segregation of solid and liquid materials, filtration and separation.

Another very promising area was presented by the Russian developer and manufacturer of YUNILOS self-contained stations for deep biological wastewater treatment, SBM - Group, which currently holds the leading position in the Russian market for the design, manufacture and maintenance of sewerage systems. As highlighted by its representatives: “Our products are indispensable where it is impossible to connect to the central sewage system”!

 

The joint stand of IMABE ECO SERVICE and Altyn-TET LLP presented equipment for scrap metal, paper, paperboard and solid household waste recycling, and a mock-up of a new waste processing plant built in Astana. IMABE ECO SERVICE is engaged both in the production of equipment for processing and compacting various grades of scrap and agricultural waste, and in the development and supply of plants for segregating municipal solid waste on a turnkey basis. On Day Two, 22 September, the exhibition included a tour of the new waste processing plant in Astana.

Official support for EcoTech 2011 was provided by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Information about the Ministerial Conference and other events is available on www.unece.org/ebv/efe/Astana/welcome.html.

The next exhibition, EcoTech 2012, will be held in Almaty on 19-21 September 2012.