Construction of an Industrial Complex for the Processing of Refrigeration/Air Conditioning Equipment and Thermal Destruction of ODS/POPs in Kazakhstan
A key focus of the Regional Demonstration Project for Coordinated Management of ODS and POPs Disposal in Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia has been facilitating the recycling of used refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners with the recovery and collection of ODS for subsequent destruction, as well as the establishment of facilities for the environmentally sound destruction of ODS and POPs waste.
It was decided to establish one of the industrial complexes to address these challenges in Kazakhstan.
Background
Lacking safe and environmentally compliant facilities for processing refrigeration/air conditioning equipment and thermal destruction of ODS/POPs waste, Kazakhstan was forced to export such waste for destruction abroad — primarily to Germany and France.
In Kazakhstan, international transportation is only possible by air, making recycling costs prohibitively high.
In addition to the high costs and risks of accidents during long-distance transport, the downside of this approach is that it discourages the development of local waste management strategies and fails to foster long-term capacity development.
Therefore, there was an urgent need to establish a facility for the economically viable and environmentally sound destruction of ODS/POPs waste directly in Kazakhstan.
The construction of such a facility was implemented as part of the UNIDO-GEF Regional Project for Coordinated Management of ODS and POPs Disposal.
Beneficiary
EcoLux-As LLP became the project beneficiary for the implementation of the disposal activities in Kazakhstan. The company was selected by the Evaluation Commission in accordance with the selection procedure developed by UNIDO and approved as a technical assistance recipient by the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
EcoLux-As LLP specialises in the provision of environmental protection services. One of the company’s areas of activity is the management of persistent organic pollutants and their waste, specifically equipment and waste containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). EcoLux-As LLP carries out inventorying, packaging, transportation, temporary storage, and disposal of such equipment and waste.
Project for the Industrial Complex
The site selected for the industrial complex for the processing of refrigeration and climate control equipment and the thermal destruction of ODS and POPs is located in the Akmola Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in the Birzhan Sal district, near the village of Enbekshilderskoe.The project design includes the construction of industrial hangars, cold storage warehouses, a dismantling workshop, an administrative and amenity building, a checkpoint (KPP), and a boiler house.
The hangars house a line for the processing of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and the safe recovery of ODS, as well as a thermal destruction unit for ODS/POP waste.
The principle of operation of the refrigeration and air conditioning equipment processing line involves the complete extraction of refrigerant, the removal and destruction of foam insulation and blowing agents from the equipment, and the subsequent recycling of materials into secondary raw materials (plastics, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, etc.).
Ozone-depleting substance (ODS) extraction occurs in two stages. First, the refrigerant is safely extracted from the refrigeration circuit, followed by the extraction of the blowing agent from the foam insulation panels.
The thermal destruction unit for ODS/POPs waste ensures the incineration of hazardous waste at temperatures exceeding 1200 °C. For non-hazardous waste, the operating temperature can be reduced to lower fuel consumption.
The flue gas exiting the afterburner is cooled using a heat recovery unit or air cooler, passes through a gas cleaning system, and is discharged through a chimney using a blower.
Construction and Commissioning
In accordance with the Roadmap approved by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, construction of the industrial complex began in June 2024 based on a greenfield basis.The works included site levelling, construction of access roads, laying of foundations for buildings and structures, warehouses, erection of frames and walls, installation of roofs, plumbing and electrical works, providing gas supply, façade finishing, setting up workplaces, and installation of industrial equipment. External power supply was connected in parallel with the installation works.
The complex is expected to be commissioned in 2026 after comprehensive testing of the equipment supplied as part of the project to ensure it meets environmental performance and safety standards.