Republic of Korea committed to moving hand in hand towards brighter, more prosperous future with Kazakhstan - Yoon Suk Yeol
Images | Akorda
Many Korean companies are successfully operating in Kazakhstani market today, contributing to the development of economy, industry, and expansion of state infrastructure, President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol said at a June 12 meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Akorda, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Last September, in New York, we had our first meeting. I am pleased to see you again here, in Astana. This year, we mark the 15th anniversary of establishment of the strategic partnership between the Republic of Korea and Kazakhstan. I attach special importance to this state visit. In the past 32 years, since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, the Republic of Korea and Kazakhstan have reached significant progress in the development of bilateral relations," Yoon Suk Yeol said during the talks.
The Korean President touched upon the main areas of cooperation between the two countries.
Many Korean companies are successfully operating in Kazakhstani market today, contributing to the development of economy, industry, and expansion of state infrastructure. On top of that, we expand the horizons of our cooperation, including critically important mineral resources, energy and humanitarian-cultural exchanges between the two countries. Cooperation in the field of ecology, medicine and education develops increasingly," Yoon Suk Yeol noted.
According to him, on the threshold of the state visit, the Korean Government announced South Korea’s first diplomatic strategy for Central Asia.
He explained that this initiative is based on three principles of cooperation: accompaniment, unification and creativity. Relying on cutting-edge technologies and digital potential of Korea, the Republic of Korea and Central Asia will strive to find a new way for cooperation to jointly move ahead to achieve freedom, peace and prosperity in the future.
The Republic of Korea is committed to moving hand in hand towards a brighter and more prosperous future with Kazakhstan, our key and strategic partner. At today’s meeting, I hope that we, Mr. President, will be able to discuss in detail the ways to bring our strategic partnership, which our countries have been developing over the past 15 years, to a new level," he added.
President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol, who arrived in Kazakhstan for a state visit, has been welcomed in Akorda Palace today. As part of the visit, the two countries’ leaders will hold talks and participate in the Kazakhstan-South Korea Business Forum. A number of documents is expected to be signed.
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Kazakh Ministry of Energy announces delays at thermal power plants repairs
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The Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan, Almasadam Satkaliyev, announced delays in the scheduled repairs at thermal power plants in various regions of Kazakhstan, as reported by a Kazinform News Agency correspondent.
According to the Ministry of Energy, in 2024, major repairs are planned for 10 power units, 55 boilers, and 45 turbines. Currently, repairs are underway on 3 power units, 32 boilers, and 16 turbines. Repairs have been completed on 1 power unit, 6 boilers, and 9 turbines.
Also, in 2024, major repairs of transmission lines totaling about 20,800 km, and 423 high-voltage substations are planned. Repairs have already been completed on 4,100 km of transmission lines and 227 substations, along with 909 distribution points and transformer substations," said Almasadam Satkaliyev.
The minister reported that there are currently delays in starting repairs on the main equipment at power stations in Zhambyl (JSC "Tarazenergocentr" CHPP-4), Karaganda (JSC "Qarmet" CHPP-2, Topar CHPP) and Pavlodar (JSC "Pavlodarenergo") regions.
Furthermore, the ministry has pinpointed energy firms that will be given additional focus in readiness for the heating season.
Ridder CHPP
Minister Satkaliyev instructed to accelerate the start of repairs of Boiler 5, which has not yet begun. According to him, it is crucial to complete the scheduled replacement of the circulating water pipeline, the repair of Turbine 4, and the cleaning of the ash dump within the planned deadlines.
Ekibastuz CHPP
The minister noted that the start of repair works has been postponed from May to the third decade of June. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the completion of the planned repairs of 4 hot water boilers by September this year.
CHPP-2 Temirtau
The start of Boiler 1 repairs at CHPP-2 JSC "Qarmet" has been delayed by two months, from June to August. The volume of work is planned to be reduced. Satkaliyev has called for an acceleration of the construction of the new Boiler 7.
Moreover, according to him, at the Zhezkazgan CHPP, the repair of Boiler 5 needs to be accelerated to ensure adequate reserves by September.
Due to the postponement of some repairs from 2023 to 2024 at the power stations of LPP "MAEK" it is also necessary to expedite all planned repair works.
At the Kentau CHPP, the repair of Boiler 5 has not started, and there is a delay in the reconstruction of Boilers 8, 11 (from 3 to 24 days). The reconstruction of Boilers 7 and 12 has just begun.
Delays in repair schedules to a later date have also been noted at the Stepnogorsk CHPP, the minister added.
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Olzhas Bektenov put under special control infrastructure readiness for heating season
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Preparation for the upcoming heating season was considered during the Government session chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. Minister of Energy Almassadam Satkaliyev reported on the progress of work at power plants, Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev reported on the status of reconstruction of heating networks. Akims of a number of regions reported on the situation in the regions, primeminister.kz reports.
In the current year it is planned to overhaul 10 power units, 55 boilers and 45 turbines at power plants. Today modernisation of 1 power unit, 6 boilers and 9 turbines has been completed. Work on the remaining facilities is currently at various stages. Also within the framework of preparation for the heating season it is planned to cover about 20.8 thousand kilometres of power grids and 423 high-voltage substations with different types of repairs. Reconstruction of heating networks will affect 541 km of communications, today the degree of readiness is 23%.
Prime Minister drew the attention of the meeting participants to the risks of preparation of heat supply facilities. Thus, on Ekibastuz CHPP the start date of works has been postponed from May to the end of June. In Temirtau the extended repair of the boiler at CHPP-2 has not yet started, the delay from the schedule is 2 months. Deadlines for modernisation of heat sources in Taraz, Zhezkazgan and other regions have been disrupted.
In early May this year at the Government session, I gave an instruction to prevent the extension of repair deadlines and reduction of their volumes. However, the repair schedule approved by the operator KEGOC is regularly amended at the discretion of the owners. This year alone, the schedules have been amended 18 times to postpone repairs. And this happens without participation and co-ordination with Akimats and the Ministry of Energy. These facts indicate their lack of control," Head of the Government stressed.
Low pace of work on modernisation of heating networks, especially in Akmola, Aktobe, Atyrau and Mangystau regions, was also noted. In addition, attention was paid to the issue of insufficient use of the potential of the "Tariff in exchange for investment" programme. The tendency of repair of engineering communications at the expense of the republican budget remains in the country.
Olzhas Bektenov instructed to monitor the progress of preparatory work for the heating period on the ground to the First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar.
Roman Vasilyevich, take the necessary operational decisions and the toughest measures on the ground. Pay special attention to the quality of repair work," Head of the Government stressed.
Ministries of Energy and Industry together with regional akimats have been instructed to strengthen control over the timeliness and quality of the repair campaign at heat sources and networks, to provide fuel to all CHPPs and boiler houses by 1 September. By 15 September in the central, northern and eastern regions, in the rest of the regions to make all engineering infrastructure ready for the new heating period by 15 October.
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MTI RK: the first meeting of the working group to consider the time zone petition was held
Images | Ministry of Trade and Integration
Today, 21 June, at the site of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan held the first meeting of the working group to consider the petition regarding the time zone, press service of the Ministry of Trade and Integration reports.
The working group included members of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the initiator of the petition, representatives of public associations and expert community, representatives of the Ministries of Health, Energy, Agriculture, Transport, Emergency Situations, Labour and Social Protection, Trade and Integration and other state bodies.
All representatives of the petition author's side spoke at the meeting. In particular, Aset Nauryzbaev, a member of the Public Council of Almaty, named two main reasons for the petition to gain 50 thousand votes:
The first is the disruption of circadian rhythms, in a country as large as ours one common time zone cannot be close to the natural rhythm of people. The second is that an extra hour of time in the evening results in costs to individuals and businesses. We must get closer to the natural circadian rhythms", - he believes.
However doctor of medical sciences, professor of the department of general biology and genomics of ENU named after Gumilev Bek Zhetpisbaev, on the contrary, noted that since March of this year Kazakhstanis began to live in accordance with the natural time and now there is a process of adaptation.
Adaptation to stress has its certain types and stages, they were defined by the Canadian scientist Hans Sellier. The first stage is the stage of anxiety. Yes, we are faced with the impact of a physical factor on the body. However, our biorhythms adapt to the new factors and our biological clock is running. We are all different and the process of adaptation proceeds differently", - said the professor of the Department of General Biology and Genomics.
Evgeny Yan, a psychologist and representative of the petition author's side, believes that along with the advantages of the transition to a single time zone - such as simplification of logistics and transport, convenience for business and simplification of communications - the disadvantages are disruption of human biorhythms and reduction of labour productivity. The psychologist believes that in order to improve public health and reduce social tension, it would be an appropriate solution to transfer time to optimal time zones.
In turn, Sultan Tleukhanov, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Head and Professor of Biophysics and Biomedicine at Al Farabi KazNU, cited the example of China, which has applied uniform time throughout the territory. According to him, the majority of the population - both students and adults - switch off the light at around 10pm and get up at 6am. This practice is widely used around the world.
The first meeting of the working group was constructive, all representatives of the petitioner's side spoke and the arguments of experts from both sides were heard. All aspects of the discussion were recorded by video and audio recording. The issues and arguments raised at the meeting will be scrutinised for further discussion at the next meeting.
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Kazakh President receives credentials from ambassadors of four countries
Ambassadors of four countries presented their credentials to the Kazakh President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at the presidential residence Akorda, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Ambassador Abdullah Hussein Mohamed Jaber of Qatar, Rosalba Lo Bue Antico of Venezuela, Chea Sok of Cambodia and Joseph Nkurunziza of Burundi presented their credentials to the Kazakh President.
President Tokayev extended his congratulations to the ambassadors on the official beginning of their diplomatic missions in Kazakhstan and conveyed his best wishes and greetings to the Heads of their States.
We pursue the weighted, constructive, peaceful foreign policy. We believe that new results in our mutual cooperation could be reached with the countries, concluded the Head of State of Kazakhstan.
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