Toxic hazard becomes sellable resource in Kazakhstan

An 8km-long lake filled with sticky black tar is the most extreme example of the pollution that has built up around the desert town of Zhanaozen, in western Kazakhstan, since the supergiant Uzen field was discovered more than half a century ago.

The lake was formed in the 1970s when an accident ruptured a pipeline, and the tar has been trapping birds and animals ever since. But now entrepreneur Bauyrzhan Zhanybekov wants to finally clean up the mess – and aims to sell the recovered oil.

His technical solution is based around two decanter centrifuges that separate oil waste into water, solids and marketable crude. Zhanybekov can now process enough waste oil every week to fill an Olympic swimming pool. The solid residue, or “cake”, is undergoing tests and may be used to replace coal at a cement factory in the region.

FACTS - A brief history of oil in Kazakhstan

• 1717: Prince Alexander Bekovich-Cherkassky documents oil near Atyrau, months before he is executed by the Khan of Khiva.
• 1899: Well drilled at Karashungul by the St Petersburg-based Emba-Caspiy strikes oil.
• 1910: Emba-Caspiy lists in London as Ural- Caspian Oil.
• 1911: Ural-Caspian makes major find at Dos¬sol. Bought out by Royal Dutch Shell.
• 1917–1920: Russian revolution and civil war. Oil regions not brought under Soviet control until February 1920.
• 1961: Discovery of the supergiant Uzen field renews Soviet interest.
• 1979: Discovery of the 6bn barrel Tengiz field.
• 1993: Independent Kazakhstan signs deal with Chevron to develop Tengiz. Kazakhstan signs deal with Shell, Statoil, Mobil, BP, Total and Agip to explore northern Caspian.
• 2000: Discovery of the giant Kashagan offshore field.
• 2013: Kashagan begins production, but produces for less than a month before it is shut down due to pipeline cracks leaking deadly hydrogen sulphide gas.
• 2016: Kashagan to restart production.