BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 29. Kazakhstan's
Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and Kazakh South Hydro
Power LLP have signed an agreement on a project to build a regional
water supply pipeline with a cascade of hydropower plants in the
Turkestan region, according to the ministry.
The project is expected to provide quality drinking water to
more than 1 million residents of the Kazygurt, Saryagash, Keles,
Maktaaral and Zhetysay districts of the Turkestan region. The
hydropower cascade is also expected to help reduce the region's
energy deficit, with a planned capacity of 72 MW.
The agreement sets out the water consumption volumes required
for the facility's efficient operation and establishes timelines
for the investment and operational phases of the project. It also
provides for the subsequent transfer of the 54.7-kilometer main
water pipeline to state ownership free of charge.
The planned pipeline and hydropower cascade have been included
in Kazakhstan's list of strategic water facilities. The project is
expected to have a 90% domestic content share during
construction.
"Today, we have signed an important strategic document. The
implementation of this project will make a significant contribution
to improving the quality of life of the population and developing
the Turkestan region. Additional energy capacity will also make it
possible to implement the tasks set by the Head of State in his
Address to the People of Kazakhstan more efficiently and without
harming the environment," Minister of Water Resources and
Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov said.
