BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. Samruk-Kazyna JSC, Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund, will be constructing a combined cycle power plant with a capacity of approximately 960 MW in the Turkestan region, Akim (Governor) of the region Darhan Satybaldy said at a briefing, Trend reports.
The governor noted that the current energy demand of Kazakhstan's Turkestan region stands at 320 MW.
As he noted, the region is rapidly deploying renewable energy sources, with capacities allowing for the production of approximately 228 MW.
"There are also plans to build power plants in the cities of Turkestan and Suzak district with a capacity of 120 MW," Satybaldy noted.
Furthermore, from 2018 through 2022, within the framework of the Industrialization Map, 43 projects with a total value of 56 billion tenge ($124.1 million) have been implemented in the region, creating 2,834 new jobs.
During the first 5 months of the current year, the region has also observed an increase in industrial production volumes, mainly driven by the growth in manufacturing, electrical, and water supply industries. In the manufacturing industry, 19 projects are scheduled for implementation, resulting in the creation of 490 new jobs.
The main share of the industrial sector in the Turkestan region is represented by the extraction of natural resources, specifically uranium mining. In this regard, as the governor announced, Kazatomprom JSC, Kazakhstan's national operator for the import and export of uranium and other rare materials, plans to build a sulfuric acid production plant in Suzak district to meet the demands of uranium producers. The investment cost of the project is 100 billion tenge ($221.6 million), creating 250 new job places.
"In general, the region's dependence on transfers from the republican budget is high, and it is necessary to increase our own revenue. In this regard, several important large-scale projects are planned to develop the industrial potential of the region," stated Satybaldy.