The fate of the Caspian Sea is at stake. A vital and irreplaceable natural treasure, the largest landlocked body of water in the world is looted in secret, its future dictated by international oil and gas giants operating behind closed doors. This opaque system, facilitated by the Ministry of Energy, not only at risk Kazakhstan, but also violates the constitutional rights of its people.
For years, the public has been maintained in ignorance of the conditions under which the oil giants injected their profits by extracting resources from the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan has three of the world’s largest oil fields – Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak – with all the big oil giants. But despite their important role in the country’s economy, these companies continue to operate with minimum transparency and responsibility for local communities, Leaving behind a trace of despair and destruction.
This is why, after having founded “Save the Caspian Sea Campaign”, in December 2024, my first step was to ask the public to access the product sharing agreements (PSA) and a concession agreement, which defines the conditions under which Big Oil operated in the region. However, the Ministry of Energy denied our request, claiming that it would be a violation of their confidentiality commitments, and that access can only be given the written consent of companies.
But what about commitments made to its own citizens? For the government of Kazakhstan, the agreement which replaces everything is the protection of the rights of the Kazakh people. This is why at the beginning of this year, I launched a legal action against our government.
This veil of secret only benefits from international operators. Oil companies working in the field of Kashagan recently obtained two Favorable collations in a parallel arbitration process against our government. Not only did they manage to postpone environmental fines for the storage of sulfur on the site, but they also delayed tax audits. Companies argue that, in accordance with agreements, only the Ministry of Energy has the power to carry out tax audits, this is precisely why the public must have access to this information. Although these decisions are clearly favorable to oil companies, there is always a silver lining: they also underline the speed and legitimacy of our case.
Unfortunately, in the preliminary hearings of our case, the court ruled that the refusal of the administration of public authority to access to environmental information was legitimate and concluded that I had no position to continue the Ministry of Energy. We appeal this decision.
We cannot ignore the Constitution of Kazakhstan, which stipulates unequivocal: land, flora, wildlife and natural resources belong to the people. The government is only an intendant of these resources, but it has chosen to prioritize the interests of businesses on the well-being of its own citizens. This fight is far from over – we have a case, and we will.
For more than 20 years now, Kazakhstan has started for the Aarhus Convention. The main objective of this global convention is to defend everyone’s law Live in an adequate environment for their health and well-being by Guarantee access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters. According to article 4 of our Constitution, international treaties ratified by the country priority on national laws. Having worked with the Aarhus Congress Committee for more than a decade, I know this mechanism inside and outside – and I am ready to use each legal avenue available to defend our rights.
The Caspian Sea is a unique and irreplaceable natural treasure – the largest coastal body of water in the world, holding a particular meaning for the five boundary countries, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan. But it disappears right before our eyes. If we do not want it to repeat the fate of the Aral Sea, denial and inaction are no longer an option.
Last November, nearly 2,000 seals were found dead Along the Caspian coast in Kazakhstan, which serves as a heartbreaking recall of the environmental toll which is taken on this vital ecosystem. This mass death is not an isolated incident but is part of an increasing scheme of damage which has been widely ignored. Kazakhstan, with his shallow Shoreline will be among the first to deal with the consequences of this disaster that takes place.
However, there is hope. Earlier this year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Called to a revision of PSAsfurther emphasizing the need for change. So, although the best time to protect the Caspian sea yesterday, the second best time is today. To achieve this, we must hold the polluters responsible for the damage they have already caused and prevent them from future damage by ensuring transparency. It is only by putting these agreements available for a public examination that we can finally open the door to a significant conversation on the management of the Caspian Sea by emphasizing the protection of its environment and the support of local communities that depend on it.
It is our duty to protect the Caspian. If we do not act now, future generations in Kazakhstan will inherit a desert, not a sea.