Zhanar IgenovaActing chairman of the Management Board of IGTIPC

The International Green Technologies and Investment Projects Center (the Center) was established in 2018 as a practical implementation of the initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Yelbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, announced during the 70th UN General Assembly, on the basis of the infrastructure and heritage of the Astana EXPO - 2017 exhibition.

The International Green Technologies and Investment Projects Center (the Center) was established in 2018 as a practical implementation of the initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan-Yelbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, announced during the 70th UN General Assembly, on the basis of the infrastructure and heritage of the Astana EXPO - 2017 exhibition.

The main scope of the Center's activity is to promote the accelerated transition of Kazakhstan to a "green" economy by promoting technologies and best practices, developing business and investment, strengthening international cooperation within the framework of the "Green Bridge" partnership program adopted in 2012 by the participating States of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

In a relatively short period of time, a lot of work has been done aimed at developing and institutional strengthening of the Center. We have also established very close contacts with many national and international organizations and development institutions dealing with the issues of the "green" economy.

One of the main tasks set by the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Center is to facilitate the transition of Kazakhstan to the principles of the best available techniques (BAT).

For reference

The best available techniques mean the most effective and advanced stage of the development of activities and methods of their implementation, which indicates their practical suitability to serve as a basis for establishing technological standards and other environmental conditions aimed at preventing or, if this is practically impossible, minimizing the negative man-caused impact on the environment. At the same time:

1)       techniques mean technologies used, as well as methods, processes, practices, approaches and solutions applied to the design, construction, maintenance, operation, management and decommissioning of the facility;

2)       techniques are considered available if the level of their development allows introducing such techniques in the relevant production sector on economically and technically possible conditions, taking into account the costs and benefits, regardless of whether such techniques are used or produced in the Republic of Kazakhstan, and only to the extent that they are reasonably available to the operator of the facility;

3)  the best techniques mean those available techniques that are most effective in achieving a high overall level of environmental protection as a whole.

In accordance with the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated January 2, 2021, the Center performs the functions of a Bureau of the best available techniques.

The Center has developed a draft Concept for transition of Kazakhstan to the principles of the best available technologies based on international experience. This Concept of BAT is aimed at forming the institutional framework for Kazakhstan's transition to the principles of BAT by describing the mechanisms of interaction between state bodies, business structures, civil society and science. The main provisions of these documents were taken into account in the concept of the new Environmental Code. Experience of EU countries, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and other countries experience in transition to BAT was studied in detail, and cooperation was established with the OECD within the framework of the project "BAT: prevention and control of industrial pollution", the EU BAT Bureau (IPPC), BAT Bureau of the Republic of Belarus, etc.

In addition, in 2018-2019, the Center investigated 58 enterprises of the energy industry for their ability to transit to the principles of BAT. In particular, together with the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), an assessment of the current state of 9 large energy enterprises and their ability to transit to the principles of BAT was carried out. The enterprises were ranked based on degree of resource use, impact on the environment, all types of emissions, including greenhouse gases, equipment wear. Evaluation and comparison of alternative technologies, methods were carried out on the example of international experience. Recommendations have been developed for energy industry enterprises on implementation of BAT principles.

The Center also held three international conferences on "green" technologies and BAT "Creating a clean future", which became a platform for an open and constructive dialogue to discuss the introduction of the best available technologies, commercialization and transfer of "green" technologies.

Thus, in accordance with the new Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Center, performing the functions of the BAT Bureau, shall ensure the development of best available techniques handbooks in all areas of application of the best available techniques before July 1, 2023.

For reference

The BAT Handbook is a document to be approved by a Government decree, which will reflect in detail technological and managerial approaches to regulating environmental emissions. These handbooks should become a reference book for the largest enterprises of I category. It is the emission levels defined in the BAT reference books that will create the basis for establishing prerequisits for environmental permits and are legally binding on industrial enterprises.

Handbooks provide the competent authorities with a technical basis for establishing permit prerequisites for industrial facilities, taking into account the technical characteristics of each facility, its geographical location and local environmental conditions.

Process of successive strengthening of requirements. The cycle is defined by provisions of the environmental code and is 8 years. Each subsequent version of the handbook should be more resource-efficient than the previous one, that is, it should ensure the consumption of as little raw materials as possible to obtain the same amount of products, as well as distribute undesirable products (waste) in further treatment.

The first stage of the development and (or) revision of handbooks on the best available techniques is to conduct a comprehensive technological audit (CTA). In this regard, the Center organized a large-scale work on data collection and analysis by conducting CTA at industrial facilities. As of today, CTA was conducted at 82 enterprises. CTA provides an objective picture of the current state of enterprises and industry as a whole, which will allow us to develop fair handbooks.

A multi-stage procedure for discussing and approving BAT Reference Books has been organized. In order to ensure the principles of openness and transparency, the mandatory participation of stakeholders and their achievement of consensus, the subsequent development of BAT handbooks is succeeded by a number of coordination procedures of working bodies:

•         technical work groups;

•         Committee of the Best Available Techniques;

•         public.

Currently, the scientific and academic community and members of technical work groups are developing and discussing five handbooks:

1.       "Combustion of fuel at large installations for energy production".

2.       "Oil and gas processing".

3.       "Production of inorganic chemicals".

4.       "Production of cement and lime".

5.       "Energy efficiency in economic and (or) other activities".

At the first stage, handbooks are discussed and agreed upon at meetings of technical work groups (TWG) formed at the premises of BAT Bureau. For their formation, about 2.6 thousand organizations were covered, including industrial enterprises, state bodies, industry and environmental associations, scientific and design organizations, universities. Thus, a balanced composition of technical work groups is ensured and a broad and transparent discussion process is guaranteed to ensure consistency of opinions and parity of interests of stakeholders.

To date, a total of 335 specialists from the above organizations are involved in development of handbooks, which were divided into 7 technical work groups. Also, 14 international consultants were involved in the development of BAT hand books. In addition, the Center receives constant consulting support from its colleagues from the European Bureau.

The main form of activity of TWG is a meeting in the volume and quantity necessary for the purposes of developing BAT handbooks. The decisions of TWG are made on the basis of consensus, taking into account the interests of all members. In case of failure to reach a consensus, decisions shall be made by holding an in-person or absentee voting.

Upon approval of handbooks at meetings of the TWG, the handbooks will be sent to a specially formed Advisory Committee of BAT, which includes representatives of the authorized state bodies in the field of environmental protection, industry and industrial development, energy, tax and budget policy, science, digital development, agro-industrial complex, as well as representatives of the national chamber of entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan "Atameken" and "Association of environmental organizations of Kazakhstan".

Composition and Regulations on BAT Committee were approved. The Committee consists of 15 experts from the above-mentioned state bodies and associations. Formation of such Committee's composition is determined by the goals and objectives of the Committee: ensuring compliance of BAT handbooks with the state policy on transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to "green" economy.

After completion of all these stages, handbooks will be sent for further approval by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is worth noting that the process of developing handbooks is quite complex, time-consuming and long-term. Now, the process of developing the first handbook in the EU countries took more than five years.

Process of introducing BAT has long been not associated only with environmental protection activities, it is a tool that can solve a number of environmental and economic problems and contribute to the development of industrial policy.

As to development of market of "green" technologies, the Center developed thresholds for each type of economic activity in the "green" taxonomy and a draft methodology for determining threshold values for classification of "green" projects. Methodology determines the interaction of market participants (financial institutions, public organizations, state and local executive bodies, business) when entrepreneurs receive financial support for a "green" project in accordance with the criteria of the "green" taxonomy, including obtaining financing under the "Business Roadmap" program. Draft methodology was sent to the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan for approval.

As part of work on uniting of representatives of scientific and academic community, large industrial sectors, state and local executive bodies, deputies of Mazhilis and Senate of the Parliament of the RK, in order to promote expert opinion and recommendations in the field of "green" development of the country, a Research and Technology Board was established at the Center, which consisted of dozens of scientists and experts in the main areas of "green" economy.

In addition, the Center is actively working on formation of a Registry of domestic manufacturers and suppliers of "green" technologies and equipment. The main purpose of its creation is to promote the transition to "green" economy through efficient and environmentally friendly technologies and innovations. Registry will simplify the choice and decision-making in the implementation of "green>> projects and will allow uniting all participants of "green" technologies market to solve environmental problems in energy, agricultural, housing and municipal services and other sectors of the economy.

Registry is a list of Kazakhstani companies engaged in production and/or supply of technologies and equipment that meet energy and resource efficiency standards, as well as contribute to improving the environment.

Currently the Registry includes 38 organizations, half of which are engaged in both the production and supply of "green" technologies and equipment; 12 organizations are only manufacturers and 7 are only suppliers.

Developed Registry will be published on the Center's website and data will be further collected on an ongoing basis to replenish and systematically update the Registry.

In order to develop the educational platform and promote the ideas of "green" growth, an online project was launched in 2020 with the creation of GREEN WEBINAR platform at the premises of NTR and NTS. The platform has already managed to establish itself as an effective information and educational platform with a wide audience, allowing vigorous discussions when revealing the most pressing issues and acute topics. At the moment, GREEN WEBINAR has completed 13 successful webinars, which have gathered an audience of more than 2000 people from more than 90 different organizations.

As part of the work with international organizations and the implementation of joint projects, the Center conducts systematic work on issue of obtaining accreditation from "Green Climate Fund" (GCF) in order to attract funds from GCF for the implementation of low-carbon projects (up to $10 million).

For reference

GCF, being one of the most important financial institutions in the field of climate change, finances projects and programs with low emissions and resistance to climate change. Projects and programs developed by the public and private sector aimed at solving priority country tasks related to climate change are funded by the GCF through accredited organizations. To date, 103 organizations around the world are accredited by GCF, 165 organizations are at different stages of the accreditation process.

To date, the Center has submitted an application and all the necessary documents for accreditation. Further work on accreditation will continue, and by 2022 it is planned to sign an agreement with the GCF on accreditation of the Center.

In addition, in order to attract funds from international sources, work is also being carried out with GCF to obtain grant funds for implementation ofPrograms to support the readiness of the Republic of Kazakhstan for financing from GCF Readiness-2.

The project proposal for implementation of this program includes a number of activities that will lead to the following results:

-         revised country programme;

-         creation of an effective coordination mechanism;

-         accreditation of at least two nominated organizations;

-         raising awareness of the private sector and financial regulators about investments in projects and the possibility of "green" financing.

In February, the Center received confirmation of the full compliance of the financial potential and the capacity of the department for implementation of the Readiness-2 program and appointment as a partner for implementation, that is, the main executor of the program.

Work is also being carried out with the global environment facility through UNIDO agency. Thus, it is planned to implement the project the global cleantech innovation program for SMES in Kazakhstan (GCIP-Kazakhstan). The project will be implemented within the framework of the main umbrella project planned for implementation in ten more countries. The purpose of the project is to promote innovation in clean /"green" technologies through an intersectoral and multi-pronged approach to create sustainable innovation ecosystems for small and medium-sized enterprises and startups.

The above-mentioned areas of activity are the main ones, but far not the only ones. The Center sets itself a number of other ambitious tasks to promote the implementation of national goals for transition to a "green" economy. The Center calls on all participants of the "green" market to actively cooperate and join efforts to ensure the sustainable development of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the near future.