Measures to implement the instructions of the President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev given on Jan. 11, 2022, during his speech in the Majilis of the Parliament were considered at the government session chaired by the Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov. Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources Serikkali Brekeshev reported on the issue of recycling fees and the work of the ROP operator.

According to the minister, ROP Operator LLP was established by the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated Dec. 30, 2015, in accordance with Art. 387 of the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In the period from 2016 to Jan. 1, 2022, the amount of funds received in the form of a utilization payment amounted to 691.9 billion tenge.

The received funds, according to the minister, are spent in strict accordance with the current legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In particular:

• funds previously paid by them in the form of a scrap payment in the amount of 338.9 billion tenge were returned to domestic automakers.
• 102 billion tenge and taxes 49.1 billion tenge were allocated to address environmental issues.

“Today, the balance of funds is in second-tier banks and amounts to 220.6 billion tenge,” Brekeshev said.

According to him, in connection with the order of the Head of State, the ministry proposes to create a Working Group to consider the following issues:

1) the creation of a separate state operator, or on the basis of the Industrial Development Fund;

2) revision of utilization payment coefficients;

3) provision of vouchers to buyers of domestic vehicles and agricultural machinery, due to the utilization fee with the participation of business, the public and interested state bodies.