ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 31. Vice Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumanagarin and Al Khaleej Sugar President Jamal Al Ghurair reviewed progress on the construction of Kazakhstan’s largest sugar plant, Trend reports via the country's Ministry of Agriculture.
A 1,000-hectare land plot in the city of Konaev in the Almaty region, within the Alatau special economic zone (SEZ), has already been allocated for the plant. Preparatory work is underway to provide essential infrastructure, including gas and electricity supply.
Strategies for fortifying the foundational resource matrix are concurrently advancing. In the initial phase of the project, a designated expanse of 65,000 hectares has been earmarked for the cultivation of sugar beet, with potential avenues for subsequent scalability and enhancement.
Legal procedures for land allocation and preparation for irrigation are ongoing, with international financing being considered for water infrastructure. Local farmers have confirmed their readiness to cultivate nearly 100,000 hectares, ensuring sufficient supply for the future plant.
The parties discussed all aspects of the project’s preliminary phase and expressed interest in moving quickly to construction. To coordinate efforts and facilitate interactions with various state bodies, the creation of a dedicated working group was proposed.
The UAE contingent also signaled its preparedness to execute an EPC agreement, thereby expediting the initiation of the construction phase.
The investment project, implemented by QazaqArab Sugar LLP, envisions an annual production capacity of 500,000 tons of refined sugar. The total cost is estimated at 313.6 billion tenge ($591.6 million), with construction scheduled for 2025–2028. The plant is expected to create 450 permanent jobs.
