By increasing our connection with local communities, Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. seeks to prevent or minimize negative effects and enhance positive effects from our presence, thereby generating chances for society development. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards serve as the foundation for our CSR policies, standards, and practices. The IFC standards serve as guidelines for Adzhip Karachaganak B.V.’s Stakeholder Engagement Operating Procedure, Involuntary Resettlement Operating Procedure, and Grievance & Suggestion Management Procedure. Even while we engage with all community members in the region where we operate, we pay particular attention to the area around Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. operations.

Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. creates and implements a social performance plan every year with the goal of assisting local communities in achieving their development goals while taking into account their interests and potential social dangers. One of the main tenets of Adzhip Karachaganak B.V.’s operations in the social performance sector is consultation. Many instruments are used, such as public hearings, ad hoc meetings with local government, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders, as well as official consultative entities like Village Councils.

Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. strives to support on improving livelihoods of the communities around Karachaganak complementing the efforts made by the local authorities. Proposals to implement community development projects for the funds allocated by Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. are raised by the local communities through the Village Councils and then assessed by Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. in terms of the community needs, technical feasibility and the allocated budget.

Village Councils

The core of Adzhip Karachaganak B.V.’s work in the field of corporate social responsibility is meetings and consultations. Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. may respond to inquiries from local communities, discuss ideas and projects as they come up, and help to address their problems thanks to the ongoing interaction that takes place in the shape of Village Councils. Priorities for Adzhip Karachaganak B.V.’s social investment in the villages are determined in part by the Village Councils. These organizations were founded in 2005 as a result of an agreement between Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. and the Burlin District of Astana.

In 2022, Priuralnyi, Zharsuat, and Uspenovskiy rural districts hosted 17 Village Council meetings. The Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. Community Development Programs for 2022, the KPO Environmental Monitoring Program, and the advancement of students from these rural districts enrolled in Uralsk colleges and universities under the Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. Scholarship Program were all shared with the local residents during the meetings. Between 2010 and 2022, a total of eighteen local residents were educated through the Scholarhip program. Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. gave 150 coupons for health recreation at the Akzhaiyk Sanatorium to the senior residents of the Burlin area as part of the Community Development Program.

Public hearings.

Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. periodically presents environmental measures and construction projects to the public for review and approval. Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. should consider public opinion on environmental issues and the exploitation of natural resources when designing and building new facilities. Public hearings guarantee the openness of governmental environmental expertise and the participation of the public in decision-making. At public hearings, Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. gives interested citizens and public associations a chance to voice their opinions. The Company reviews feedback from the public, which helps to improve the caliber of project documentation that is developed.

Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. periodically presents environmental measures and construction projects to the public for review and approval. Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. must consider public opinion on environmental issues and the exploitation of natural resources when designing and building new facilities. Public hearings guarantee the openness of governmental environmental expertise and the participation of the public in decision-making. At public hearings, Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. gives interested citizens and public associations a chance to voice their opinions. The Company reviews feedback from the public, which helps to improve the caliber of project documentation that is developed.

Public hearings on the construction projects “Expansion of Karachaganak 1. 2nd stage of construction” and “KPC. Construction of a new caustic neutralization complex (adjustment)” were held by Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. in 2022. In accordance with the Republic of Kazakhstan’s Environmental Code, four rural districts hosted public hearings in the format of open meetings. Publications in regional and district newspapers, local television and radio channels, information boards at rural districts of Astana, and the Unified Environmental Portal were used to inform the public and interested government bodies about the scheduled public hearings.

Community grievance redress

Addressing complaints and issues brought up by the people who live in the villages close to the Karachaganak field is a top priority for Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. Complaints pertaining to the Venture’s operating activities are handled in accordance with established protocol. Stakeholders impacted by Adzhip Karachaganak B.V.’s industrial and economic activity in the West Qazaqs Oblast and Burlin District are subject to this procedure. In addition to residents of Aksai city and settlements along Adzhip Karachaganak B.V.’s export routes within the borders of Qazaqstan, the company gives special attention to residents of six settlements surrounding the Karachaganak field: the villages of Priuralnoye, Zharsuat, Dimitrovo, Karachaganak, Uspenovka, and Zhanatalap.

Additionally, a form is provided for people of the neighboring villages of Karachaganak, which are grouped in three rural districts: Priuralnyi, Zharsuat, and Uspenovskiy. This form is to be filled out and placed in one of the boxes designated for grievances or ideas that are located in each village’s Akimat building. During community engagement events, the Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. Community Liaison Specialist’s phone number is typically given to locals and posted on Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. information boards that are set up in public areas around the six villages.

The company looks into all complaints and suggestions before taking appropriate action to fix the problems. According to the Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. Community Grievance Procedure, we received 32 requests and complaints from the surrounding communities in 2022. These included 32 requests and suggestions of various kinds from the local communities residing close to the Adzhip Karachaganak B.V. Field, as well as seven complaints regarding gas odor. Resettled locals requested clarifications and expressed interest in the company’s social activities, which support socially vulnerable groups in the community.

Environmental monitoring

Environmental emissions, such as air emissions, wastewater discharge, waste treatment, accumulation, and disposal, as well as the quality of environmental components, such as air, surface and ground water, and soil, are all monitored as part of the PEC implementation. The PEC monitoring showed that target chemical concentrations in 2022 were comparable to those seen in earlier years. There was no proof that any aspect of the ecosystem has been harmed by the Karachaganak Field operations.

Samples are taken and tested as a means of monitoring the quality of the air. Eighteen stationary automatic EMS and an accredited laboratory do the work. In 2022, more than 100,000 samples were gathered, 115,000 laboratory analyses were performed, and almost 28,000 measurements were finished as part of the PEC Program. KPAdzhip Karachaganak B.V. keeps a close eye on the environmental conditions at the field waste disposal facilities and controls production environmental management over them. No direct detrimental effect on the environmental protection components is observed in 2022 as a result of monitoring ground water and soil at the Eco Centre Solid Industrial Waste Burial Landfill and the Temporary Liquid Drilling Waste Storage Site, as well as in inspections 35A and 35B. Quantitative management of garbage transportation is implemented.