ASTANA. February 5. The board of executive directors of the World Bank has approved a USD 24.3 mln loan for the Ust Kamenogorsk environmental restoration project. . The project with a USD 40.1 mln budget is co-financed by the Kazakh Government to the amount of USD 15.8 mln, the World Bank’s press service informs Its ultimate goal is to monitor the Ust Kamenogorsk environmental pollution level with toxic factory waste since 1990. Ust Kamenogorsk is one of the largest industrial centers of Kazakhstan, with population estimated at 300 000 people. It is known to face the most grave environmental pollution problem the countrywide. The town is notable for the giant non-ferrous metal industry, atomic energy enterprises, gold and rare metals processing plants, thermal power stations, machine building works, construction industry and agricultural production. A high percentage of Ust Kamenogorsk contamination is the result of waste dumps appeared there until 1990. By 2000 its suburbs accumulated more than 28 mln tons of solid and liquid effluents. The World Bank gives the loan for the period of 17 years. The Bank has already invested into Kazakhstan about USD 2 bln through 29 projects since 1992.