Sharlapayev: mining and processing companies been granted exclusive licence to export coal
On the fuel needs of the population and budget organisations, as well as the preparation of heating networks for the upcoming heating season, the Minister of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kanat Sharlapaev told during the Government session.
According to the Minister, in all regions of the country began preparatory work for the upcoming heating season 2024-2025 years.
The Ministry has developed and sent to local executive bodies, the national company "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy" and coal-mining enterprises the plan of measures on formation of demand for coal of the population and budgetary organisations with indication of concrete terms of their performance.
"According to the plan in the current heating period the need for coal products is 8.6 million tonnes. For 5 months of this year, 42.2 million tonnes of coal were produced, of which 1.9 million tonnes were shipped to the public and household needs and to the population," Sharlapayev reported.
According to him, in order to state regulation of the domestic coal market and to exclude the outflow of social coal outside the country, the Government Decree was adopted, providing for the granting of an exclusive licence for coal export to mining, processing enterprises and affiliated companies.
Nevertheless, local executive bodies need to work out a number of measures together with controlling authorities to strengthen preparation for the heating season.
In order to ensure qualitative and timely preparation for the upcoming heating season, the Ministry has formed a plan of needs based on the data of akimats.
Regarding the preparation of social and housing facilities, the Minister reported that 35 per cent of education facilities, 34 per cent of health care facilities, 19 per cent of residential buildings were prepared.
As to the readiness of engineering infrastructure, as K. Sharlapaev noted, about 541 kilometres of heat supply networks are planned to be repaired this year. To date, about 125 kilometres of heating networks have been repaired.
On water supply networks it is necessary to repair about 3.2 thousand kilometres, 1.3 thousand kilometres have been repaired. More than 669 kilometres of water drainage networks are to be repaired, 331 kilometres have been repaired.
About 12 thousand autonomous boiler houses should be prepared for the upcoming heating season in the republic. As of today, more than 3 thousand of them have been prepared.
"In order to provide autonomous boiler houses with fuel reserves it is necessary to prepare more than 1.3 million tonnes of coal, 9.2 thousand tonnes of fuel oil and 61 thousand tonnes of diesel fuel. Today, 220 thousand tonnes of coal, 8.9 thousand tonnes of fuel oil and about 8 thousand tonnes of diesel fuel have been prepared," Sharlapaev said.
The Minister also reported on the debt of consumers for utilities. According to him, today accounts receivable is 22.9 billion tenge. Compared to the same period last year increased by 1.3 billion tenge or 5.5%. The highest receivables remain in the cities of Astana, Almaty and Mangystau region.
According to the Minister, high accounts receivable does not allow subjects of natural monopolies to implement the approved investment programmes in full.
Focusing on the state of heat networks, K. Sharlapaev noted that this year 84.1 billion tenge was allocated from the national budget for the modernisation of 152.8 km of heat networks.
Including:
- at the expense of targeted transfers for the implementation of 51 projects
- 51 projects allocated 68.6 billion tenge (107.2 km);
- about 15.5 billion tenge (45.6 km) was allocated from the Government reserve for the implementation of 8 projects.
According to the financing plan, 25.3 billion tenge out of 84.1 billion tenge has been transferred to local executive bodies since April.
At the same time, out of 59 heat supply projects:
- 14 projects are undergoing dismantling works;
- 30 projects have started laying networks;
- 6 projects have been completed.
Thus, 21% of the total plan has been laid.
At the same time, tender procedures have not been completed and contracting processes are delayed for 7 projects in Akmola, Aktobe, Karaganda oblasts and Astana city.
In Shymkent city and Kostanay region in each of 1 project construction and installation works are suspended due to filing a lawsuit in court by the contractor.
As the Minister further noted, in order to timely prepare for the upcoming heating season akimats need:
- accelerate the pace of repair works on engineering infrastructure, ensure completion by the end of September;
- Ensure that educational facilities are ready for the heating season by 1 September 2024;
- ensure full readiness for the heating season in the central, northern, eastern regions and the capital by 15 September 2024, and in other regions by 15 October 2024;
- take measures to repay existing accounts receivable;
- intensify stockpiling of coal reserves at deadheads and in coal pits during summer time;
- prevent the sale of social coal to business entities.
"Work in this direction will be continued and is under constant control of the ministry," Sharlapayev said.
Source: Official Information Source of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan
