Greta Jimenez
The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, is facing a pollution crisis. Bordered by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan, the sea is rich in natural resources, boasting an estimated 50 billion barrels of oil and 300,000 billion cubic meters of natural gas. However, this abundance has come at a cost, with frequent oil spills, untreated sewage, and industrial waste threatening the region's unique ecosystem. Climate change is also causing the sea level to drop rapidly, with water evaporating faster than it is being replenished, leading to predictions of a nine-meter drop in water levels by the end of the century.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pollution sources | Oil extraction and refining, offshore oil fields, radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, untreated sewage, industrial waste, pesticides, heavy metals, plastics and microplastics, urban and rural wastewater, leachate |
| Polluted by | 80% of pollution is from the flow of water from the Volga River and other western rivers from the Republic of Azerbaijan |
| Oil spills | Frequent in the coastal areas of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan |
| Water level change | Decreased by 130 cm in the last 25 years, with an average decrease of 6 cm per year |
| Water temperature | Increased |
| Bioresources | Overfishing, hunting, and habitat destruction have led to a decline |
| Sturgeon population | Declined by more than 90% over the last three generations |
| Seal population | Less than 10% of the population from a century ago remains |
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What You'll Learn
Oil extraction and refining
The Caspian Sea region, which includes Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran, is one of the oldest oil-producing areas globally and is a significant source of global energy production. The area has substantial oil and natural gas reserves from both offshore deposits in the Caspian Sea and onshore fields in the region.
Oil extraction and exports from the Caspian Sea region offer higher and quicker profitability than refining. The countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus have a total regional market of more than 70 million consumers, but this is a segmented and underdeveloped market. With economic integration and cooperation, the region has the potential to become a center for refining. In addition to serving their domestic markets, these refineries could provide Russia, Turkey, Iran, and Europe with a range of petroleum products.
Azerbaijan has two refineries with a total capacity of 442,000 barrels per day (b/d). They are Azerneftyanajag (203,000 b/d) and Azerneftyag Baku (239,000 b/d), both located in the vicinity of Baku. Kazakhstan has three refineries with a total capacity of 427,000 b/d. The Pavlodar (in northeast Kazakhstan) and Shymkentnefteorsinez (in south-central Kazakhstan) refineries have capacities of 163,000 b/d and 160,000 b/d, respectively. The oldest refinery is located in Atyrau (104,000 b/d) in western Kazakhstan, close to the Caspian Sea.
However, refineries in the Caspian area are struggling to overcome their legacy of outdated technology from the Soviet era. Before the break-up of the former Soviet Union (FSU) in 1991, the 10 functioning oil refineries in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan were integrated into a broader regional network. They were designed to function as part of a monolithic, centrally controlled Soviet oil industry. Breaking up this unified industry has been much more difficult than breaking up the political union. These countries have been unable to gain true political independence from Russia because they cannot create independent energy systems and markets.
Caspian area refineries mainly make low-octane, leaded gasoline, which is well below European standards. This is not a significant issue because most vehicles in the FSU are designed for this type of fuel. However, with the expected tightening of emission standards and the importation of more cars, poor-quality gasoline will become a problem. The refineries' petroleum products are high in sulfur and unprofitable in export markets. Heavy fuel oil, because of its high sulfur content, cannot be used for power stations in Europe unless fitted with flue-gas desulfurization and can only be sold as a cheap feedstock for further processing. High-sulfur diesel also limits diesel's use to cheap feedstock.
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Radioactive waste
The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, is under threat from a variety of pollutants. Radioactive waste is one of the most concerning issues.
Radioactive and toxic wastes stored near the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan pose a significant threat to the region. The environmental degradation in the Mangistau region began in the 1960s when the Soviet Union started extracting and processing uranium. The uranium tailings dump was created in a drain-free settling pool at Koshkar-Ata, just 4.5 miles from the Caspian Sea. Since 1965, liquid radioactive, toxic, and industrial wastes, as well as unpurified domestic drains, have been discharged into this repository. The radiation exposure on these plots of land far exceeds safe levels, and local residents have been digging up the radioactive metal, attempting to sell it, and then discarding it elsewhere when they are unable to do so.
The situation is made worse by the fact that the Caspian ecosystem naturally collects and stores high levels of radioactive nuclides. The water, sediments, and living organisms in the Caspian Sea contain levels of uranium that are five to seven times higher than those found in other seas. This is due to both natural sources and "man-made" sources of radiation, such as nuclear power plants and nuclear waste kept in substandard conditions.
The potential infiltration of radioactive waste into the Caspian Sea is a serious concern for the local people and the environment. The UN Environment Programme has warned that the Caspian Sea suffers from pollution from radioactive wastes, among other sources. The sea's water level is also decreasing, which may be due to climate change and rising water consumption from the Volga River, the Caspian's main water source. This decrease in water level could further concentrate radioactive and other pollutants, exacerbating the issue.
Scientists have conducted sampling expeditions and studies to better understand the extent of radioactive pollution in the Caspian Sea. These studies have found the presence of anthropogenic radionuclides such as 90Sr, 137Cs, and 239,240Pu, which are likely the result of global fallout. While some studies have found no signs of dumping of radioactive wastes, others have identified high-risk points for pollution along the shores of the Caspian Sea.
The pollution in the Caspian Sea, including radioactive waste, poses a serious threat to the region's environment and the people who depend on it for their livelihoods.
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Sewage and industrial waste
The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, is facing a pollution crisis. The sea borders five countries: Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. It is a unique ecological system that has been isolated for over two million years.
The Caspian Sea's environment is under threat from a variety of sources, including oil extraction and refining, offshore oil fields, and radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. However, a significant amount of the pollution in the Caspian Sea is from untreated sewage and industrial waste, which is introduced mainly by the Volga River. The river supplies most of the sea's water, and the recent drop in its water level has contributed to the sea's shrinking water levels.
The Caspian Sea is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including the famous Caspian sturgeon and the rare freshwater seal. The sturgeon population has declined by more than 90% over the last three generations, according to the World Wildlife Fund in 2016. The seals have also suffered from over-hunting and industrial pollution, with only about 10% of the population remaining from a century ago.
The pollution in the Caspian Sea has had a significant impact on the caviar industry, with environmentalist Garayev noting the drastic increase in the price of caviar due to the declining population of sturgeon. Former hydro-geologist and fisherman turned environmental activist, Aligaidar Mammedov, has also warned of the potential for oil spills, which would be far more polluting in the inland sea than in the ocean.
The waste management crisis in the Caspian Sea is not limited to industrial waste and sewage. Ahmad Reza Lahijanzadeh, deputy chief of the Department of Environment (DOE) for the marine environment, stated in 2020 that leachate, urban wastewater, and rural wastewater are also significant problems. The release of these pollutants into the sea poses a serious threat to the marine environment and the human food cycle.
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Climate change and water loss
The Caspian Sea, the largest enclosed body of water on Earth, is facing a triple planetary crisis: climate change, nature, land and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Climate change is causing water loss in the Caspian Sea, threatening ecosystem integrity, biodiversity protection, and human infrastructure.
Global warming is projected to drive declines in water levels of up to 21 meters by 2100. According to bathymetric maps of the Caspian Sea projected under climate change scenarios, water level declines of 5–10 meters will critically disrupt key ecosystems, compromise human infrastructure, and reduce marine protected area coverage by up to 94%. The northeastern coastline of the Caspian Sea has already regressed by more than 56 km, and areas of ecological significance have become desiccated, leading to the loss of important habitats.
The water loss in the Caspian Sea is driven by climate change and the use or diversion of water for human activity. The Caspian Sea is bounded by five countries: Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. The economies and livelihoods of these countries depend heavily on the sea, including fishing, the oil industry, agriculture, and communications. However, human activities, such as water extraction and pollution, are contributing to the water loss in the Caspian Sea.
The Caspian Sea is facing a pollution crisis due to oil extraction and refining, offshore oil fields, radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants, and untreated sewage and industrial waste. The frequent oil spills in the coastal areas of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, as well as the discharge of waste from factories and refineries into the sea, are significant contributors to the pollution. Additionally, the release of urban and rural wastewater and the presence of plastics and microplastics in the sea pose a serious threat to the marine environment and can have detrimental effects on human health.
To address the water loss and pollution crisis in the Caspian Sea, urgent and ambitious action is required. Science-based decision-making, robust monitoring, and predictive models are essential to understand and manage the drivers of water level changes. Regional cooperation and transboundary collaboration are crucial, as the challenges faced by the Caspian Sea transcend borders. By working together, we can safeguard ecosystems, support livelihoods, and promote equitable economic growth in the region.
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Sturgeon and seal population decline
The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, has been facing a pollution threat for years. The sea, which is bordered by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan, is a source of livelihood for the bordering nations, who rely on it for fishing, shipping, and trade. It is also home to several unique species, including the famed beluga sturgeon and the endangered Caspian seal.
Sturgeon and seal populations in the Caspian Sea have been declining for years due to various factors, including overfishing, pollution, and climate change.
Sturgeon populations in the Caspian Sea have declined by more than 90% over the last three generations, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Oil exploration methods, such as seismic explosions, destroy the seabed, which is the habitat of sturgeons. In addition, the potential for oil spills and the introduction of invasive species further threaten sturgeon populations.
Caspian seal populations have also declined significantly. Of the more than one million seals that inhabited the shores and islands of the Caspian Sea a century ago, fewer than 10% remain, and the species has been declared endangered. Over-hunting and the effects of industrial pollution have been identified as the main drivers of this decline. In addition, declining water levels in the Caspian Sea due to climate change and rising water consumption from the Volga River are expected to leave Caspian seals with significantly reduced breeding habitats.
The decline in sturgeon and seal populations in the Caspian Sea has had a significant impact on the region's biodiversity and sustainability. The loss of these key species has also affected the local communities and industries that depend on them.
Urgent action is needed to protect the Caspian Sea and its unique biodiversity from the impacts of pollution, climate change, and human activities. Regional and international cooperation are essential to address these complex issues and safeguard the future of the Caspian Sea and its inhabitants.
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Frequently asked questions
The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, bordered by five countries. It is highly polluted, with 80% of the pollution related to the flow of water from the Volga River.
The Caspian Sea suffers from an enormous burden of pollution from oil extraction and refining, offshore oil fields, radioactive wastes, untreated sewage, industrial waste, and plastic waste.
Climate change is causing the Caspian Sea to lose water due to increased evaporation. The sea level is dropping by more than 6 cm per year, and the water temperature is rising, impacting the potential for evaporation.
The pollution in the Caspian Sea has led to a decline in aquatic species, including seals, turtles, and sturgeons. It also threatens the caviar industry and the health of humans in the region.
The Tehran Convention, signed in 2003 by the five littoral Caspian states, aims to protect the Caspian Sea and its marine environment. It is the first legally-binding regional agreement and is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme.
