During his visit to the Abay region, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov inspected the work of the Shulbinsk HPP and got acquainted with the activities of a number of large manufacturing enterprises in the region.

The 702 MW Shulbinsk hydroelectric power plant is located on the Irtysh River near the village of Shulbinsk. It is the third station in the Irtysh cascade of HPPs and the largest in Kazakhstan in terms of installed capacity. The station is designed to compensate the flow of the Irtysh River and to accumulate runoff from the Ulba and Uba Rivers.

The HPP is currently implementing a pilot project on advance diagnostics, which allows monitoring the condition of main equipment in real time and identifying malfunctions at early stages. The project is designed to reduce unscheduled downtime and ensure accident-free operation of the plant.

"The plant management should make every effort to ensure stable operation of Shulbinsk HPP and its modernization. It is necessary to strive to get the maximum effect from implementation of plans to increase the capacity of the plant," Alikhan Smailov said.

Projects in the energy and water sectors were presented to Head of the Government, including the construction of the CHP-3, a counter regulator on the Irtysh River, which will increase the capacity of the Shulbinsk HPP by 350 MW, and new substations. The Prime Minister noted that the modernization of engineering infrastructure is of key importance in light of the region's dynamic development.

"There will be new social facilities and enterprises, various investment projects. Energy consumption will only grow. Therefore, we must bring all energy sources and networks into proper condition to be ready to support the growing economy with energy," he said.

Then Alikhan Smailov visited Bakyrchik mining enterprise (Polymetal) in Zharma district of the region, which produces more than 10 tons of gold in concentrate per year. The equipment of the beneficiation plant located here is equipped with modern measuring instruments and local automation. Control over the key production processes - from ore crushing to finished product output is exercised from the single control room.

The plant currently employs over 1,500 full-time employees. By 2022, the plant has reached a processing capacity of 2.2 million tons of ore per year. In the future it is planned to increase the capacity of a single mining and processing complex to 2.4 million tons of ore per year.

The Head of Government stressed that the ministries concerned, together with Atameken and local executive bodies should continue to work to support production enterprises, create an enabling environment to attract investment and increase the rate of economic growth as a whole.

"It is necessary to promptly solve the problematic issues of business, to identify the barriers that may hinder its development. This may concern taxation, some administrative issues, such as issuing permits or other papers. It is necessary to optimize these processes in order to stimulate the growth of business activity," he said.

The Prime Minister also inspected the operation of Qazaq Astyq Group LLP producing vegetable oils and fats. The plant can daily process about 1,000 tons of sunflower seeds or 800 tons of rapeseed or flax seeds. In future the ready production will be directed to the domestic market and to the countries of near abroad. Today there is a 7 billion tenge project of modernization, which will enable the enterprise to produce refined oil. Most of the funds for its implementation are planned to be attracted through state support mechanisms.

Alikhan Smailov noted that the akimat should more actively help such processing enterprises, since they provide the domestic market with basic foodstuffs and increase the share of added value in exports.

"It is necessary to increase the number of such projects, which will subsequently have a positive multiplier effect on the entire industry of agriculture. The government will continue to support such enterprises in every possible way," Prime Minister said.

Deputy Akim of the region Dmitry Garikov also informed the Head of the Government about the plans to expand operating dairy farms in the region by the experience of agricultural holding and the provision of soft microcredits to the rural population under 2.5% (financing of household farms is expected in June). Besides, zamakima told about implementation of 9 investment projects for 5,6 billion tenge this year, directed to increase of irrigated lands, launch of new processing capacities and improvement of gene pool of agricultural animals.

#Alikhan Smailov #The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan #Regions