Olzhas Bektenov checks North Kazakhstan region flood preparations
Images | primeminister.kz
During his working trip to North Kazakhstan region Prime Minister visited Sergeyevskiy hydrosystem, and also checked in Petropavlovsk the progress of reconstruction of pumping station of the 1st lift and strengthening of the dam, primeminister.kz reports.
These objects play a key role in protecting settlements from floods and providing local residents with water. The purpose of the working visit is to monitor the fulfilment of the instructions given by the Head of State to coordinate preparations for the flood-dangerous period. Attention is focused on the condition of hydraulic structures and implementation of modern digital solutions.
In Sergeevka, representatives of key departments and services reported on current activities on repair of the hydroscheme. Sergeyevskiy hydrosystem is the main flow regulator of the Yesil River. It continues to operate in cascade with the Petropavlovsk hydroscheme, forming a single water management complex that provides water supply to the North Kazakhstan region, partially Kostanay region and Akmola region, as well as guaranteed passes to the Tyumen region of the Russian Federation. During last year's floods at the Sergeyevskiy hydrosystem, the ground was washed away from the left bank as a result of large volumes of water and ice drift in the downstream section. No damage was recorded at the Petropavlovsk hydroscheme.
In 2024, the Government allocated 278.5 million tenge for the current repair of hydraulic structures from the national budget and flood control measures at the Sergeyevskiy and Petropavlovsk hydrosystems. More than 1.4 thousand m3 of large-size rubble stone was brought to these objects for construction of coastal slopes, bottom deepening in the lower embankment near the dam of Sergeevskiy hydrostructure was carried out, 940 m3 of soil mixture was extracted.
Director of the North Kazakhstan branch of RSE Kazvodkhoz Shugaip Ibatullin reported that at the moment both waterworks are in satisfactory condition and continue to operate in normal mode. In the current year it is planned to carry out additional 14 activities.
In turn, the head of the branch Kazgidromet Kymbat Mergalimova said that the amount of precipitation will be more than normal, especially in the southern and eastern regions. Heavy precipitation is predicted in mid and late February, with a drop in temperature in the first and second decades of the month. Flood risks remain high for areas downstream of the Sergeevsky reservoir.
The Sergeyevskiy hydrosystem is a strategic structure in a flood-prone region, on which the water supply for residents depends. In case overflows will exceed 2 metres, I instruct you to immediately report to the centre and me personally," Olzhas Bektenov noted.
It was instructed to continue to strengthen water management facilities in the region, as well as to actively implement digital solutions, to conduct bathymetric survey.
Head of the Government was also reported on strengthening control over the movement of heavy vehicles on artificial structures, including on Sergeyevskiy hydrosystem and Petropavlovsk hydrosystem. Thus, weight limits for heavy trucks are set, mobile transport inspection posts are in operation.
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Olzhas Bektenov: Attracting investments as top priority for akims and ministers
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Prime Minister held a meeting to review the implementation of the Head of State's instructions on attracting investment in the country's economy, primeminister.kz reports.
The main goal is to accelerate the implementation of large investment projects and solution of systemic problems that hinder the improvement of investment climate in the country, as well as consideration of possible measures to improve the effectiveness of investment policy, creation of favourable conditions for investors and intensification of work on attracting capital.
The information of the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kazakh Invest on the pace of work and analysing the factors that affected the dynamics of investment activity was heard. In 2024 in Kazakhstan put into operation 230 investment projects for 1.85 trillion tenge. The work of the Investment Headquarters for the year allowed to eliminate 115 problematic issues of investors on projects totalling over $50 billion.
An approach of targeting investors in priority niches where Kazakhstan has a competitive advantage with the potential for higher conversion and export opportunities is being implemented. TOP-10 companies have been identified as industry leaders for negotiations on specific prospects for co-operation and transition to the stage of active investment. Thus, the work is being restructured through the principle of order for investment taking into account the needs of the economy, competitive advantages of the regions and other factors.
For example, productive work has been carried out with major Chinese agro-industrial companies. Fufeng Group in the near future plans to start construction of a $350 million plant for the production of sodium glutomate through deep processing of corn in Zhambyl region. Dalian Hesheng Holding Group will start construction and assembly works within the complex on deep processing of wheat in Akmola region for $650 mn this summer. Active work on ‘landing’ of projects, i.e. creation of favourable conditions, including accessible infrastructure and operative solution of administrative issues, continues with all companies.
In addition, 20 strategic projects with a total investment volume of $12bn have been identified covering key sectors of the economy, including agro-industrial complex, energy, industry, production of construction materials and others.
Among the presented projects, it is planned to conclude Investment Agreements on 14 projects this year, to start construction and installation works on 13 projects, and to start development of design and estimate documentation on 16 projects.
Attention was also paid to the projects, agreements on the implementation of which were concluded within working visits, meetings and other events. Prime Minister dwelt in detail on investment projects, where the terms of their implementation had been disrupted. Akims of Almaty, Aktobe, Atyrau, Zhambyl regions, cities of Astana, Shymkent and ministers of health, trade were heard.
To date, the measures taken to attract investment from the akimats do not reveal the opportunities of the regions, the economic potential is not sufficiently utilised. Work in this direction should be carried out at all levels of the vertical of local government, including regional akims," Head of the Government instructed.
The Government approved approaches to the introduction of planned indicators of the work of regional akimats, ministries.
A new National Digital Investment Platform will become an effective mechanism for monitoring and strengthening control over the implementation of projects, where today there is already data on 1159 projects. The data will be filled in jointly with Atameken NCE and verified on the ground by akimats.
At the same time, during the meeting a number of problematic issues affecting the efficiency of work of government agencies and requiring action were noted.
Among them are deficit and lack of prompt supply of infrastructure, complicated administrative procedures and delays in issuing permits, long terms of granting land plots. Necessary decisions have been taken on all issues.
The President noted at the enlarged meeting that attracting investment is a critical issue that requires more prompt work without excessive bureaucracy. State bodies and especially akimats need to manually control the implementation of projects. Akims and ministers should deal with this issue on a daily basis. This is the main task for today - it is necessary to promptly resolve the issues of investors," Olzhas Bektenov emphasised.
The work in this direction is under special control of the Prime Minister.
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Kazakhstan plans to increase international flights and expand its aircraft fleet
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During the meeting of the Government chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov the issue of development and digitalisation of the aviation industry of the country was considered. Deputy Minister of Transport Talgat Lastaev made a report on the implementation of the instructions of the Head of State, the current situation and further plans, primeminister.kz reports.
He noted that the Head of State at the enlarged session of the Government paid special attention to the development of civil aviation.
Over the past 5 years, the industry's performance has grown 2-fold. Last year Kazakh airlines carried 14.7 million passengers, which is 11% more than in the previous period," Talgat Lastayev reported.
According to him, the number of passengers served at airports totalled 29.7 million, up 14% year-on-year.
Flight safety is a key task of civil aviation. In Kazakhstan, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), this indicator is 82%. This is 11 per cent higher than the world average and comparable to the indicators of Western European countries.
Last year, the European Commission on the black list were completely lifted all restrictions on flights for Kazakh airlines in the EU countries.
Deputy Minister informed that in July this year at the invitation of the Head of State for the first time with an official visit will visit Kazakhstan President of the ICAO Council Salvatore Shakkitano. This will be a new stage of co-operation between Kazakhstan and ICAO.
Also, according to the order of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, given at a special meeting after the plane crash near Aktau, the aviation administration checked the main major aviation enterprises.
Regarding the investigation of aviation accidents, this parameter is one of 8 critical parameters for ICAO safety assessment. In Kazakhstan it is 5%.
To improve the situation, according to the vice-minister, by the end of this year it is planned to create a specialised centre for investigation of transport accidents, with the involvement of highly qualified specialists and equipping with the necessary equipment.
For further sustainable growth of the industry, expansion of the route network and modernisation of the air fleet plays an important role. Domestic air transportations in Kazakhstan are performed by 6 airlines on 56 routes. The number of routes for last year increased by 10%, which indicates the growth of transport accessibility within the country," Talgat Lastaev reported.
According to the department, the regularity of flights is 75%, which corresponds to world indicators. One of the key factors in improving the quality of air travel and reducing delays is the renewal and expansion of the aircraft fleet. Kazakhstan airlines annually purchase about 10-15 new modern aircraft. At the moment, the fleet of aircraft is 104 aircraft.
For a month and a half of this year the air fleet of the country has already been replenished with two new modern liners Airbus A320 NEO. By the end of the year, 14 more aircraft are expected to arrive, which will increase the carrying capacity by 15%.
Talgat Lastaev also reported on the work carried out on behalf of the Head of State on the implementation of projects of new airports of small regional aviation in the resort areas of Katon-Karagai, Zaisan and Kenderli.
At present, all necessary preparatory measures are being carried out to start works for the opening of the construction season. For flights it is planned to operate regional aircraft such as ATR-72, Q-400 Bombardier with a capacity of up to 74 seats. Three aircraft will be purchased through the mechanisms of the Industrial Development Fund.
The main task is to organise direct flights to these airports from Almaty, Astana and other major cities, which will make these tourist destinations more accessible.
Every year transport communication is made accessible by subsidising 26 socially important air routes. Special attention is paid to tourist destinations such as Usharal, Urjar, Turkestan, Aktau, Kokshetau, Balkhash.
As noted by the Deputy Minister, today the repair works of terminals and airfields of small aviation in the airports Usharal, Urjar, Balkhash have been completed.
This year will continue to subsidise 12 tourist air routes with an average cost of 18 thousand tenge.
As for ground infrastructure, last year construction and repair work was carried out at 10 airports. Three new passenger terminals in Almaty, Shymkent and Kyzylorda were modernised by attracting 350 billion tenge of private investment, which increased their capacity by 6.5 times.
The airports of Astana, Aktobe, Shymkent, Karaganda and Zhezkazgan carried out current repairs of runways. At the airports of Aktau and Pavlodar, major repairs of aerodrome coverings will be completed this year.
6 airports have been identified for the development of air hubs and increasing cargo traffic. Within the framework of modernisation in Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, Aktobe, Karaganda, Aktau, 5 key measures are envisaged to upgrade the infrastructure and simplify the logistics processes of air hubs. To implement these projects it is planned to attract $2.1 billion of private investment," Talgat Lastayev informed.
For example, it is planned to create a full-fledged multimodal hub in Aktau, which will provide cargo transportation using air, road, rail and sea communication. Its structure will include a technical centre for aircraft maintenance and repair, as well as an educational centre for training specialists.
The main condition for the development of transportations is the availability of aviation fuel in sufficient quantity and at a competitive price. On the instructions of the Head of State, joint work is underway with AZRC and the Ministry of Energy to develop a set of measures aimed at reducing the cost of jet fuel, increasing production, transitioning to JetA-1 standards and eliminating intermediaries in supplies.
The number of international flights is increasing every year. To date, air links have been established with 31 countries and 58 cities, and flights are operated on 119 routes. Last year, 12 flights were opened on 22 international routes to six cities, including major cities such as: Mumbai, Jeddah, Prague, as well as resumed flights on 10 routes," Talgat Lastaev said.
It is noted that this year 16 new destinations are planned, including the cities of Rome, Munich, Budapest, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Busan and others.
Expansion of the choice of budget routes for passengers is increased due to the arrival of 4 new foreign low-cost carriers SpiceJet, Eastar Jet and T'way Air, ThayAirAsia to the international air market of Kazakhstan.
Last year the open sky regime was introduced at the airports of Kyzylorda, Kostanai, Atyrau and is in force at all international airports.
Growth in the aviation industry requires adequate staffing. Civil aviation in Kazakhstan employs 23,000 people. Specialists are trained by the Academy of Civil Aviation in 21 training centres, as well as on the basis of aviation enterprises for their own needs.
The industry needs up to 600 new specialists annually. Due to the Academy's lack of EASA PART-FCL international certificate, airlines are forced to hire foreign pilots.
By the end of this year, the Civil Aviation Academy plans to obtain the EASA - European Aviation Safety Agency certificate, which will improve the quality of training and reduce dependence on foreign specialists.
Reporting on the digital transformation of the industry, Vice-Minister noted that to date, within the PPP has already implemented projects of electronic document management system in freight transport E-freight. The system of electronic identification E-doc-airport, which allows passengers to pass registration and control without presenting paper documents, has been implemented in the airports of Kazakhstan.
Biometric passenger identification, route optimisation to reduce flight time and fuel consumption and a digital insurance service for flight delays are at the implementation stage. This will be a special service implemented in the air ticketing application, which will allow passengers to insure delays and instantly receive payments in case of flight delays," Lastaev reported.
The Deputy Minister said that by 2030 it is planned to achieve the following results:
- Passenger traffic will increase from 14.7 million to 26 million passengers.
- The volume of handled cargo will grow from 170 thousand to 500 thousand tonnes.
- The aircraft fleet will expand from 104 to 221 aircraft.
- The number of international destinations will increase from 119 to 200.
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