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Updated April 2004
Biological Facilities
Dual-Capable Infrastructure
Today, there is no concern that Kazakhstan is engaged in an offensive BW program. However, Kazakhstan inherited all the necessary infrastructure and capabilities to produce BW agents from the Soviet Union. Although the Kazakhstani government dismantled or converted all its former Soviet BW facilities involved in the offensive BW program, it maintains several facilities involved in civilian research and production. Among them are the three converted former military BW facilities: the Scientific Experimental and Production Base (SNOPB) in Stepnogorsk, the Scientific Research Agricultural Institute (NISKhI) in Gvardeyskiy, and the Anti-Plague Scientific Research Institute in Alma-Ata (now Almaty). In 1993, the National Center for Biotechnology (NCB) was founded, which brought together most of the civilian and military biotechnology facilities in Kazakhstan. The NCB has significant research potential, and biotechnological facilities belonging to NCB have considerable production capacity with a large number of scientists participating in its research and development activities. The following biotechnology facilities currently operate in Kazakhstan:
AO Biomedpreparat at Stepnogorsk: This facility is the former Scientific Experimental and Production Base (SNOPB), which was extensively involved in an offensive former Soviet BW program and was producing various BW agents. It was reorganized into a joint stock company called "AO Biomedpreparat" in 1993. Numerous measures were taken by the Kazakhstani government and foreign programs to reconstruct the SNOPB into a civilian production facility. Despite those efforts, the economic situation at Biomedpreparat still remains difficult. According to US specialists who studied the condition of the buildings, equipment, and communications infrastructure in 1997, if the facility is to be used to produce pharmaceuticals, a significant capital investment will be required because the buildings do not meet international quality control standards for pharmaceutical production. As it currently stands, however, the facility could be used to manufacture products that do not require a sterile environment, such as ethanol or biological insecticides. At present, the NCB is independently trying to establish a production line for disposable, sterile syringes at Biomedpreparat, but it does not have sufficient funding to purchase the equipment it needs.
Scientific Research Agricultural Institute (NISKhI) in Gvardeyskiy: During the Soviet period, this facility specialized in viruses and developed agents harmful to livestock and plants. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, these activities were halted, and the facility was reorganized into a civilian research institute. In 1993, the NISKhI also came under the control of NCB. The NISKhI currently conducts fundamental research into the molecular biology of various pathogens: viruses, bacteria, and fungi harmful to plants and animals. The institute also develops methods of preparing nutrient media for virology research.
Anti-Plague Scientific Research Institute in Almaty (former Alma-Ata): During the Soviet period, the institute developed diagnostic tests and vaccines for several infectious diseases, including anthrax, plague, tularemia, brucellosis, cholera, and listeria. In addition to serving civilian needs, the institute was involved in military-related research and development of defensive measures against BW agents. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Anti-Plague Institute was put under the authority of the Kazakhstani Ministry of Health, Education, and Sport, and it became the scientific and methodological center for the eight anti-plague stations in Kazakhstan. The Anti-Plague Institute is currently developing diagnostic preparations and vaccines for virulent infectious diseases, conducting epidemiological monitoring, and training specialists.
Progress Plant at Stepnogorsk: In 1993, Progress became the joint stock company, which subsequently was divided into three companies. During the Soviet era, Progress was involved in the production of a variety of legitimate products including antibiotics, amino acids, and feed additives. However, Progress also served as a cover for Scientific Experimental and Production Base (SNOPB). Progress was the largest industrial manufacturer of microbial pesticides in the former Soviet Union. According to Rimmington ("The Biopharmaceutical Industry in Kazakhstan: Opportunities for UK Companies"), as of 1995, the facility still has the capacity for the production of 3,067 tonnes of these preparations. The same source mentions that among the pesticides produced are Bitoksibatsillin, Dendrobatsillin, and Lepidotsid. Progress is also a major producer of the essential amino acid lysine, which is used as a supplement in animal feed.
Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (IPB) at Stepnogorsk: The IPB is a state enterprise created in 1993 after the reorganization of the Biomedpreparat Kazakhstani Scientific Production complex and was put under the control of the NCB. The IPB has a modern laboratory and experimental base that is developing technology for obtaining new drugs from microbial and animal sources.
Almaty Biological Combine: This facility prepares vaccines and other preparations for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of zoonotic infectious diseases. It produces a wide range of vaccines against anthrax, brucellosis, gangrene, listeriosis, rabies, and other infectious diseases. The combine has a production facility of 40,000 square meters, suitable for the large-scale manufacture of vaccines. Until 1991, this facility was subordinate to the Soviet Ministry of Agriculture. In 1993, it became the part of NCB.
M.A. Aitkhozhin Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry in Almaty: The institute is subordinate to the Kazakhstan National Academy of Sciences and is the part of NCB. The institute was one of the strongest institutes working on plant biotechnology in the former Soviet Union. It incorporates nine laboratories studying protein and nucleic acids, biotechnology of alkaloids, biotechnology of cereals, plant genomes, transgenics, biochemistry of exchange of natural components, and enzymology.
The Institute of Plant Physiology, Genetics and Bioengineering in Almaty: This facility is subordinate to the Kazakhstan National Academy of Sciences and is the part of NCB.
Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Almaty: This facility incorporates fifteen laboratories. The work is focused on brucellosis, influenza, tick-borne encephalitis, rotaviruses, and measles. The institute is under the subordination of Kazakhstani Ministry of Health.
Institute of Microbiology and Virology: The institute incorporates nine laboratories studying biochemistry of viruses, ecology of viruses, genetics of viruses, viral protection, psychology and selection of microorganisms, ecology of microorganisms, biotechnology, and microbial pesticides. The institute is subordinate to the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan.
Key Sources:
Gulbarshyn Bozheyeva, Yerlan Kunakbayev, and Dastan Yeleukenov, "Former Soviet Biological Weapons Facilities in Kazakhstan: Past, Present and Future," Occasional Paper, No. 1, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, June 1999; Anthony Rimmington, "The Biopharmaceutical Industry in Kazakhstan: Opportunities for UK Companies," Report of the DTI OSTEMS 'Scout' Mission to Kazakhstan, University of Birmingham, July 1995.
