During the Government session under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on the measures taken to prepare the housing and communal infrastructure for the upcoming heating period reported the Minister of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kanat Sharlapayev.

It was noted that all regions are working to prepare for the upcoming heating season.

"The plan for the formation of the needs of the population and budget organisations in coal with the indication of specific terms of execution is transferred to local executive bodies for execution in May this year. In the current heating period the need for coal products is 8.6 million tonnes, including 2.3 million tonnes for municipal and household needs and 6.3 million tonnes of coal for the needs of the population. Since the beginning of preparation for the heating season, about 1 million tonnes have already been supplied, which is 12% of the annual plan," Kanat Sharlapayev reported.

The Ministry conducted monitoring, which revealed weak preparatory work on coal procurement in 6 regions: in Abay region, Kyzylorda region, Karaganda region, Akmola region, East Kazakhstan region and Astana. The Minister noted that KTZ and coal mining companies are ready to supply the necessary volumes of coal to the regions according to plans. In this regard, these regions should intensify work.

The readiness of the education system is 88%. Today 5 regions are behind schedule: East Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Pavlodar, Almaty regions and Almaty city. The readiness of health care facilities is 87%. Low indicators are noted in Karaganda, Almaty, Akmola regions and in the cities of Shymkent and Almaty.

As for residential buildings, preparatory work has been completed in 34169 houses - 68% of the plan. There are inadequate rates of readiness of housing in the city of Shymkent. Planned repair works on engineering infrastructure are also underway in the regions.

"As a whole in the country is planned to repair 546 km of heating networks. Repaired to date 354 km or 65% of the plan. In 5 regions the repair is less than 50% of the plan, including in Shymkent - 31%, Mangystau region - 41%, Atyrau, Kostanay regions and Abay region 49% each. In 6 regions, the work has been completed by more than 70%," Sharlapayev said.

In addition, 59 % of water supply networks have been repaired, water disposal - 74 %. Unsatisfactory indicators were noted in Abay region and Almaty city. In accordance with the financing plan, funds have been allocated, by the beginning of the heating season the work will be completed.

"As for the preparation of autonomous heat sources, about 12 thousand autonomous boiler houses should be prepared for the upcoming heating season in the country. 81% of the work has been completed, more than 10 thousand autonomous boiler houses have been prepared. The lag is observed in Astana" the Minister informed.

More than 1.3 million tonnes of coal, 9.3 thousand tonnes of fuel oil and 54 thousand tonnes of diesel fuel should be prepared for autonomous boiler houses. At the moment, 50% of coal, 98% of fuel oil and about 50% of diesel fuel have been procured. Low rates of work on fuel supply to autonomous boiler houses are noted in Karaganda, Turkestan, Kostanay, Zhambyl region, Almaty, West-Kazakhstan regions, in Abay region and in Astana city.

For modernisation of 163 km of heat networks this year 92.5 billion tenge is envisaged from the republican budget, including:

- 68.6 billion tenge is allocated from targeted transfers for modernisation of 109 km of heat networks;

- about 24 billion tenge has been allocated from the Government's reserve for the reconstruction of 54 kilometres of heating networks.

- At the expense of investment programmes of natural monopolies, it is planned to reconstruct 68.8 km of heat supply networks for a total amount of 16.6 billion tenge.

According to the financing plan, 37 billion tenge or 40.5% of 92.5 billion tenge has been transferred to local executive bodies since April this year. Out of 63 heat supply projects, 8 projects have been completed, 51 projects have started laying networks, 82 kilometres have been laid.

At the same time, weak work on laying heat networks was noted. Thus, less than 50% of the plan was laid in 11 projects, and less than 20% in 9 projects. Pipe laying has not started for 4 projects, dismantling works are in progress.

Under the project "Reconstruction of main heat networks of Aktau city" (4 start-up complexes) 12 km of main heat networks (from MAEK to the city) were dismantled and 7 km were laid. Akimat of Mangystau region needs to strengthen its work on completion of this project.

According to Kanat Sharlapayev, in order to timely prepare for the upcoming heating season, akimats need to:

• complete repair works on heating networks by the end of September;
• to ensure full readiness of educational facilities by 1 September, health care facilities, housing and communal services and housing stock by 15 October;
• to develop a media plan for advance coal procurement by the population and for the communal and household sector with information support through mass media;
• Ensure accumulation of coal stocks at railway sidings and warehouses;
• coal mines should be provided with monthly requests from regional operators for coal shipment according to the approved schedule.

#Government session #Heating season #Ministry of Industry and Construction