52 billion tenge allocated this year for forestry firefighting equipment acquisition
Images | Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan
At the Government session under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nysanbayev reported on the ongoing work to preserve and increase forest areas in Kazakhstan, primeminister.kz reports.
Over the past 5 years, the area of forest territories in the country increased by 267 thousand hectares. In general, this indicator has reached 5% growth. Measures are taken to increase funding for technical equipment of forest protection institutions and social support for forestry workers.
If last year 15.9 billion tenge was allocated from the republican and local budgets for the purchase of machinery and equipment, 526 units of fire-fighting and patrol equipment were purchased. This year, for the first time in the history of the country's forestry sector, 52 billion tenge has been allocated for the purchase of 1,384 units of firefighting equipment and 921 units of trailed and mounted equipment, including through leasing - 40 billion tenge. These measures will bring the equipment of forest protection institutions in the most fire-prone regions of the country up to 100 per cent," Yerlan Nysanbayev said.
In addition, 900,000 hectares of the state forest fund have been covered by early detection systems. As a result, the area of forest fires has been significantly reduced. Next year, a similar system will be introduced in the reserve ‘Semey Ormany’ at a cost of 3.1 billion tenge. 12 institutions of the Ministry and akimats will be equipped with it at the expense of leasing financing in the amount of 24 billion tenge.
Over the past four years, forest reproduction works have been carried out on an area of 651,000 hectares, including 413,000 hectares on the dried bed of the Aral Sea. Within the framework of works on greening of settlements, about 12 million saplings were planted during the mentioned period.
The increase in the volume of forest planting gave impetus to the development of forest nurseries. We reconstructed some of them and created new ones on the area of 1300 hectares. The data on the survival rate of plantations show that the existing forest nurseries are insufficient and the growing technology is outdated. In this regard, the country additionally needs to build 114 new and reconstruct one forest nursery," the minister added.
Akimats of the regions have started financing reconstruction of forest nurseries and equipping of forest protection institutions to the amount of more than 1 billion tenge since this year. To maintain the pace of forest planting, the country has a forestry fund, about 5.2 million hectares.
Akimats of regions need to conduct soil surveys for forest suitability and develop appropriate working projects. This will ensure the fulfilment of the Head of State's instructions and increase the forest area. This work will be under the control of the Ministry," Yerlan Nysanbayev emphasised.
In this regard, the Minister noted the need to carry out work on the collection of seeds to ensure their processing, storage, as well as the cultivation of more than 650 million seedlings.
Today in the reserve ‘Semey Ormani’ planting material is grown using Swedish technology with a closed root system. Its use increases the survival rate to 90 per cent, while reducing the growing time from two years to one year. This experience will be scaled up in the six regions most prone to forest fires.
The ministry has also initiated a number of new initiatives, one of which is the implementation of offset projects aimed at carbon sequestration.
Kazakhstan has the potential to implement offset projects. A Swiss company has launched a pilot project in Akmola region, which involves planting forests on an area of 14,500 hectares. Large global companies are also interested in participating in the creation of forest plantations in the country. The Ministry has prepared amendments to the legislation to enable the implementation of such projects on the territory of the state forest fund. This will give a new impetus to planting forests at the expense of investors," Yerlan Nysanbayev informed.
The Minister also reported on the ongoing work on forest reclamation of the dried Aral Sea bed. The country has thirty years of experience in scientific research on forest reclamation of the dried bed of the Aral Sea. During this period, forest planting works have been carried out on the area of more than 600 thousand hectares. To improve the quality and scientific support of the works, it is planned to open a branch of the Kazakh Research Institute of Forestry and Agroforestry in Kyzylorda.
In addition, work has begun on the creation of a new forest nursery directly on the dried bed. The planting material of this nursery will be more adapted to local conditions.
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Olzhas Bektenov presents new akim to Ulytau region on behalf of President
Images | primeminister.kz
On behalf of the Head of State, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Head of the Presidential Administration Aibek Dadebay participated in the meeting of deputies of the Maslikhat of Ulytau region, primeminister.kz reports.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev submitted two candidates for the post of Akim of the region Dastan Ryspekov and Ulantai Ussenov for the deputies' consideration. According to the results of open voting 49 deputies out of 64 supported the candidacy of Dastan Ryspekov, 15 deputies gave their votes for Ulantai Usenov. Following the voting results, the Head of State signed a decree on the appointment of Dastan Adayevich Ryspekov as akim.
At the meeting with the activists of the region, the Prime Minister thanked Berik Abdygaliuly for his contribution to the development of the region and introduced the new akim.
Olzhas Bektenov noted that the Head of State had set important tasks for the leadership of the Ulytau region to diversify the economy, open new industries, improve investment attractiveness, modernise infrastructure and address environmental issues, unlock transport and tourism potential.
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Water supply plan to Aral Sea almost 100% fulfilled for first time in 5 years
Images | primeminister.kz
This year, for the first time in the last 5 years, the plan of water supply to the Aral Sea during the irrigation period was fulfilled almost 100%. 977 million cubic metres of water were directed, primeminister.kz reports.
If in recent years only 350-400 million cubic metres of water was delivered to the sea, since the beginning of the year the volume has exceeded 2 billion cubic metres, and it is planned to send about 500 million by the end of the year.
Today, the volume of water in the Northern Aral Sea is 22 billion cubic metres. Before that, 7-10 cubic metres of water per second flowed into the sea during the irrigation period, this year it is 10 times more - 60-70 cubic metres per second," Deputy Head of the Aral-Syrdarya Basin Inspectorate Zeinolla Kaztoganov said.
In addition, more than 45m cubic metres of water was diverted to lakes Akshatau, Sorgak and Kamystybas. This has had a positive impact on fisheries and tourism. For example, the salinity of the Aral Sea decreased and the fish population increased. After the sea dried up, the fishermen's catch barely reached 400 tonnes a year. Now they catch up to 7.5-8 thousand tonnes of fish.
Kuntugan Turganbayev, a 76-year-old fisherman from Karateren village, has been fishing all his life. The arrival of water has brought prospects to his native land, he said.
I've been fishing all my life. With the arrival of water, the fish have come to life. There are more fish this year than last year. If we keep the Aral Sea at its present level, the fishery will develop," he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, together with the World Bank, is drafting the second phase of the Northern Aral Sea Conservation Programme, which will focus on sustainable water supply and the development of economic and social initiatives.
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Olzhas Bektenov: Preparations completed, we need to conduct heating season at proper level
The Government session chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov considered issues related to the start of the heating season. Minister of Energy Almassadam Satkaliyev, Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev, as well as akims of some regions reported on the readiness of heat and power systems of the country for the winter period, primeminister.kz reports.
According to the Ministry of Energy, the heating season in the regions of Kazakhstan started on time with heat to be supplied in the southern regions in the next few days. As of today, 100% readiness of autonomous boiler houses has been ensured, repair works of 19.9 thousand kilometres of power lines, 376 substations, 4 046 distribution points and transformers have been completed. 535 km of heating networks have been modernised, which is 98.5% of the plan, 1,133 km of water supply and sewage networks. Head of the Government was reported that all planned activities in anticipation of winter are in strict accordance with the schedule. At the moment educational and medical institutions, as well as more than 99 per cent of the housing stock of the country are fully prepared for the heating season.
Olzhas Bektenov emphasised the importance of strict adherence to deadlines and standards of all repair works. To date, modernisation on the reserve equipment of heat sources continues, implementation of planned projects is underway.
The work has been carried out very much. It can be seen both by the amount of funding and the volume of work carried out. Now the most important thing is to conduct the whole heating season at the proper level, to keep all the planned parameters. It is important to provide repair units of public utilities with all necessary equipment for their prompt response to any situation. I instruct Akims to keep the issues of the heating season under personal control," Olzhas Bektenov stressed.
Prime Minister also noted the need to provide the population with affordable coal. Akimats of the regions, as well as the ministries of industry and construction, transport are tasked with the organisation of fuel supply. It is necessary to provide transport by wagons as a priority. Olzhas Bektenov stressed that the population should not have problems with the purchase of coal at stable prices.
Also, the Head of the Government instructed the Ministries of Energy and National Economy together with interested government agencies to update control measures and monitor the implementation of investment commitments of natural monopolies under the programme ‘tariff in exchange for investment’ for heat and electricity.
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Referendum on NPP construction: Preliminary results unveiled
The Central Referendum Commission has held a press conference to announce the preliminary results of voting at the nationwide nuclear power plant construction referendum on October 6, Kazinform News Agency reports.
According to Nurlan Abdirov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan, as of October 7, 2024, 8:00 am, count of votes ended at all 10,323 domestic and overseas polling stations.
As per the data provided, 12,284,487 nationals of Kazakhstan were eligible to cast their votes in Oct 6 referendum. Of them, 7,820,204 nationals or 63.66% participated in the voting.
The number of people who said "yes" to the NPP construction made 5,561,937 or 71.12%. The number of those who was against the NPP construction made 2,045,271.
The results of the referendum will be announced at a meeting of the Central Referendum Commission.
On October 6, 2024, Kazakhstan held a nationwide referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant.
The voting ended at 08:00 pm. The results will be made public within seven days.
Three organizations held the exit poll during the referendum:
1. The Institute of Public Policy - 72.3% voted for the NPP construction, and 27.7% voted against.
2. The Institute of Comprehensive Social Research Astana - 69.8% voted for the NPP construction, and 30.2% voted against.
3. The Institute of Eurasian Integration - 71.8% voted for the NPP construction, and 28.2% voted against.
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