Health, safety and environmental responsibility are embedded in every stage of KNPZ operations — from crude receipt to product dispatch and beyond.
KNPZ recognises that operating a petroleum refinery carries significant environmental and social responsibilities. We take our obligations to our workforce, the communities of Kostanai and the environment of northern Kazakhstan seriously — operating within and, where practical, beyond the requirements of Kazakhstani law.
Our HSE management system governs all refinery operations. Key elements include continuous process monitoring with automated shutdown systems for abnormal conditions; certified engineering supervision on every shift; regular process hazard reviews and safety critical equipment testing; emergency response drills and first-aid trained personnel on site at all times; PPE requirements and permit-to-work systems for all non-routine activities; and compliance with Kazakhstan's industrial safety legislation and fire safety requirements of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
KNPZ operates under the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Environmental Protection and all applicable environmental permit conditions. Key environmental controls include vapour recovery units on all road tanker loading arms, reducing VOC emissions during product dispatch; secondary containment bunding around all above-ground storage tanks to prevent soil and groundwater contamination from spills; electrostatic desalting of incoming crude, which reduces impurities and improves combustion efficiency in downstream operations; waste management procedures for refinery by-products and spent catalysts; and continuous process monitoring to minimise flaring and fugitive emissions.
As a Kostanai-based employer and industrial operator, KNPZ is an active participant in the local economy. We employ qualified petroleum engineers, process operators, quality chemists, logistics coordinators and HSE officers from the Kostanai region and broader Kazakhstan. We invest in ongoing technical training, drawing on Kazakhstan's leading technical universities. We procure services and consumables locally where possible, reinforcing the Kostanai economy. And we operate with transparency — meeting all regulatory reporting requirements and maintaining open communication with local authorities and communities.
Kazakhstan's government has committed to a major expansion of domestic refining capacity through 2040, with goals including reducing dependence on refined product imports, increasing the value-added share of hydrocarbon exports and ensuring reliable regional energy supply. KNPZ contributes to this national vision by operating a modern, compliant regional refinery that reduces supply chain distances, lowers transport-related emissions compared to long-haul fuel delivery and builds northern Kazakhstan's energy self-sufficiency. Our growth is part of Kazakhstan's energy security story.