Caspian Sea: State of the Environment 2019

In accordance with this plan, state bodies and oil companies routinely monitor the status of the wells and are undertaking work to close down and preserve flooded wells in the coastal zone (Republic of Kazakhstan 2014–2016). No abnormal deviations in dissolved oxygen content or biogenic indicators have been record- ed in the Turkmenistan sector of the Caspian Sea over the last five years. During this period, the heavy metal ion and detergent concentrations did not exceed the maximum acceptable concen- trations (MACs): the oil product concentration was 1.0 MAC, and the phenol concentration was 1.5 MAC on average. Particular attention is paid to drilling technolo- gy, the operation of offshore oil and gas wells and the disposal of industrial waste. In 2017, the best available technologies were in- troduced and the construction of new sewage

treatment plants was completed at the Turkmen- bashi Complex of Oil Refineries. As a result, the quality of treated wastewater meets requirements and the concentration of pollutants in the efflu- ent does not exceed MACs. Construction of the new treatment facilities helped to cut emissions by 3,128.3 tons per year (Turkmenstat 2018). The new facility has also enabled a zero-dis- charge water reuse system to be introduced. This has decreased the volume of effluent discharged into Soymonov Bay by almost three times, help- ing to conserve water resources and prevent wastewater contaminated with oil refinery waste from polluting the bay. This will have a beneficial effect on the state of Soymonov Bay and will sig- nificantly improve the ecological situation in the region (CaspEcoControl). Hydrocarbon development and extraction in the Turkmenistan sector of the Caspian Sea is carried out in full compliance with established interna-

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