A conference entitled “National Project for the Modernization of the Energy and Utilities Sectors: Opportunities for Kazakh Business” was held in Astana, bringing together more than 250 representatives of government agencies, national companies, natural monopolies, domestic manufacturers, and contractors. The event was organized by the Energy Monitor Public Foundation.

Opening the plenary session, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev noted that economic growth and the creation of a favorable investment climate are impossible without high-quality infrastructure.

According to him, the implementation of the National Project will require more than 13 trillion tenge in investments in the coming years. The funds will be used to repair and build 86,000 kilometers of utility networks and commission additional power generation sources with a capacity of 7.3 GW. Already in 2025, investments amounting to 144 billion tenge will be attracted on a pilot basis for 48 natural monopoly entities.

During the discussion section of the conference, Arman Galimov, Deputy Director of the Executive Directorate of the Association of Kazakhstan Machinery Industry, presented a report on the opportunities available to companies in the industry.

According to him, Kazakhstani machine-building enterprises already manufacture products for the energy and housing and utilities sectors, including parts and components for turbines, heat exchange equipment, pumping equipment and stations, electrical engineering products, metering devices, cable and wire products, metal structures, equipment for hydraulic structures, etc. These include Karaganda Turbomechanical Plant LLP, Kazturboremont Service Center LLP (Astana), Atyrau Energoremont LLP, VK Promenergoremont LLP (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Hydrostal LLP (Ust-Kamenogorsk) and Kyzylorda Mechanical Plant "Quant" LLP.

“Machine-building enterprises are ready to master new types of in-demand products and become reliable partners in the modernization of the energy and utilities sectors,” emphasized Arman Galimov.

The Association of Kazakhstan Machinery Industry is actively working to involve enterprises in the implementation of the National Project. More than 150 domestic manufacturers received information about the needs of natural monopolies, and 70 enterprises submitted proposals for 300 product items.

However, according to Arman Galimov, barriers remain for domestic producers: lack of drawings and technical documentation, low procurement volumes, and tight deadlines for manufacturing complex equipment.

“We propose to provide manufacturers with a long-term plan for modernizing facilities, earlier provision of information on equipment needs, as well as mandatory conditions for the localization of production for foreign participating companies, ensuring access to the electronic procurement platform for representatives of industry associations for monitoring,” Arman Galimov emphasized.

The Association of Kazakhstan Machinery Industry has expressed its readiness to become a link between industry enterprises and natural monopolies to expand the participation of domestic manufacturers in the implementation of the National Project.