Olzhas Bektenov instructed to ensure the readiness of thermal power plants, networks and social facilities for the heating season

The Government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov reviewed the preparations for the upcoming heating season.

The Ministers of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev, Energy Almasadam Satkaliyev, and Transport Marat Karabayev reported on the work being done to prepare heat sources, utility networks, social facilities, and fuel supplies. The akims of a number of regions were heard.

According to the Ministry of Energy, major repairs of 10 power units, 55 boilers, and 45 turbines are planned for the current year in the republic. Work is underway at various stages on 1 power unit, 28 boilers, and 22 turbines, and has been fully completed on 4 power units, 21 boilers, and 17 turbines. 13.4 thousand km of power transmission lines, 277 substations, and 2,292 distribution points have also been repaired.

At the same time, failure to meet the deadlines for the start of repairs to the main equipment is noted at power plants in the Karaganda and Mangistau regions. The Ministry has identified energy enterprises whose preparation for the heating season is under additional attention.

The Prime Minister recalled that there is almost a month left before the start of the heating season. Olzhas Bektenov noted that the habit of leaving large volumes for the last days indicates improper planning of work. Thus, in the Karaganda region, repairs to boiler No. 2 have not been completed on time and major repairs to boiler No. 1 at TPP-2 of JSC Qarmet have not been started. In addition, there are delays with boiler No. 7, while when considering the issue of preparation for the heating season in May of this year, the regional akim announced that this facility would be commissioned on time.

In the Mangistau region, major repairs to turbine No. 4 at TPP-1 at MAEK have not been completed. At TPP-2, due to untimely preparation of documentation, a contractor has not yet been determined. At the same time, the Government allocated significant funds for the development of MAEK.

“From year to year, the country continues to see a tendency to postpone repair and reconstruction deadlines, untimely preparation of documentation and the formation of fuel reserves, which could have been eliminated with due attention to the matter. At our meetings and conferences, the attention of regional akims was repeatedly drawn to these bottlenecks. Moreover, instructions were sent to the regions indicating many risky areas in the repair campaign for taking prompt measures. Based on the results of three months, the same regions are lagging behind, the same delays and postponements of repairs. The Ministry of Energy has already begun issuing heating season readiness passports to energy companies. In those regions where a TPP readiness passport is denied, we will consider the personal responsibility of the supervising deputy akims,” Olzhas Bektenov emphasized.

The importance of large-scale systematic work on modernizing the utility infrastructure with the replacement of networks and the installation of modern equipment was noted. This task has been set for the ministries of national economy, industry and energy.

The ministries of energy and industry together with regional akimats have been instructed to ensure timely completion of repair work on heat sources and networks. The Ministry of Industry and Construction and regional akimats must fully prepare educational facilities by September 1, and healthcare, housing and communal services and housing by October 15. The ministries of education, science and health have also been instructed to take these issues under control.

In order to ensure high-quality preparation and implementation of the upcoming heating season, the Head of Government has instructed to create an operational headquarters under the leadership of First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar.