Itron Inc. announced the supply of a smart payment solution, including gas meters, regulators and software for the gasification of 15,000 households in the city of Chimkent, Kazakhstan. The gas network will be operated by KazTransGas Aymak, Kazakhstan's national gas supply utility, Gazeta.kz reported.
This is the second landmark contract for Itron as part of Kazakhstan's program to give residents access to metered gas supplies. Itron successfully completed an initial delivery of 30,000 meters in Kzil-Orda in 2006 and delivered a collection rate of 100%.
"The gasification of Kazakhstan gives rise to an important need for accurate, effective gas metering - a need that our smart payment solutions can address. At Itron, we are proud to participate in Kazakhstan's nationwide gasification program", said Ad Huijps, Itron's General Manager Northern and Eastern Europe and CIS.
"With Itron, we're confident our end users are getting the right and most suitable products", he added.
In Chimkent, Itron will provide gas meters and its two-way Eclipse communication smart payment system. Eclipse allows residents to pay as they consume their gas, while the supplier collects information to ensure that they are offered the best rates based on their consumption habits. Itron will work with Eksim-Gas, a local Kazakhstan firm, on the roll out which will occur in 2011. Eksim-Gas will build the cabinets for the meters and the regulators, as well as carry out the meter installation.
"Through Itron's smart payment solution, we can offer more accurate billing and be much more efficient with our supplies", said Galym Nurgaziyev, Managing Director for Marketing and Commerce of KazTransGas Aymak.