How villagers in Kazakhstan fought against a Chinese cement plant and lost

August 19, 2025

The residents of Kodamanov village in Kazakhstan's Kyzylorda province have been engaged in a five-year legal battle against the Chinese-owned Gezhouba Shieli cement plant, which they claim is causing serious pollution and health problems. Despite winning court decisions that ruled the plant violated regulations by operating only 500 meters from homes instead of the required 1,000 meters, their victory was undermined when the Kazakh government amended regulations to allow "historically established" facilities to reduce their protection zones. The $178 million plant, part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investments in Kazakhstan worth $27.

Who is affected

Residents of Kodamanov village in Kazakhstan's Kyzylorda province, especially those living on Makulbekova Street approximately 500 meters from the plant
Children in the village who have developed respiratory diseases, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, and headaches
Specific villagers mentioned: Layla Tuganbayeva (who relocated 1,200 kilometers away due to her children's health issues) and Almas Duisebayev (whose family, cattle, garden and property have been affected)
Property owners in the village who cannot sell their homes due to the plant's proximity
Local workers who depend on the plant for employment (600 people work at the plant, 90 percent being locals)

What action is being taken

Villagers are pursuing legal action against the plant after initial complaints to local authorities were dismissed
The plant is utilizing a new legal loophole created by Kazakhstan's Health Ministry that allows reduction of sanitary protection zones "due to historically established development"
The cement plant continues operating and producing 2,500 tons of oil well cement daily
Gezhouba Group is conducting charitable activities in the local community, including donating concrete for mosques, providing financial assistance to students, and offering medical assistance to leukemia patients
Some residents like Layla Tuganbayeva are relocating to escape the pollution, while others like Almas Duisebayev remain unable to sell their homes

Why it matters

The case demonstrates how economic development priorities can override environmental and public health concerns
It highlights tensions between Kazakhstan's desire for foreign investment and infrastructure development versus protecting citizen welfare
The cement plant provides economic benefits (600 jobs, 90% local employment) while simultaneously causing health problems for residents
The situation exemplifies broader dynamics around Chinese investments in Kazakhstan under the Belt and Road Initiative
The government's legal amendment shows how regulations can be modified to accommodate foreign investors at the expense of local communities
The plant was part of an effort to reduce Kazakhstan's dependence on foreign cement imports

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices