Yerlan Issayev, Chairman of the Board of Association of Carriers of Bulky and Heavy Goods, General Director of the Kraft Spedition Company

Relatively new type of transport services in our country is the transportation of wind turbines. In this regard, the development of the transportation of bulky and heavy cargo and the transport industry as a whole requires more attention.

President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in his annual Message to the People of Kazakhstan on September 1,2023, noted about strengthening the transit potential of the country. The President pointed out the need to make full use of the opening opportunities and become a transport and transit hub of global importance. Taking into account the current geopolitical situation, Kazakhstan is becoming the most important land corridor between Asia and Europe.

Surely each of you has seen the fascinating spectacle of transporting a huge blade on country roads. I would like to note that wind energy is becoming an increasingly important component of the global improvement of state policy in energy system, and Kazakhstan does not stay on the sidelines from this technological progress. In recent years, the country has been actively developing its wind energy industry, striving to increase the share of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on traditional sources. Kazakhstan has developed a strategy for development of wind energy, which provides for an increase in the installed capacity of wind power plants in the country.

According to this strategy, a number of large wind power plants are planned to be commissioned in the coming years. These measures are aimed at strengthening the country's energy security and promoting environmental sustainability.

We have created the "National Association of Carriers of Bulky and Heavy Cargo of the Republic of Kazakhstan", the purpose of which is to develop the sphere of transportation of bulky and heavy cargo and the transport industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan as a whole. This also includes the application of international standards in formation and the field of transportation, the effective use of existing potential of domestic carriers for development of the economy of Kazakhstan and improving the welfare of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

To date, the Association's carriers participate in the project transportation of bulky and heavy cargo (BHC) using special trawls with complex technical and design features. One of the directions with a high intensity of transportation of wind turbines and equipment is China - Uzbekistan transit route through Kazakhstan, where domestic carriers are involved.

In the course of work, our carriers have encountered a number of problems. They include:

-distribution of foreign permit forms (FPF) for international transportation;

-             discrepancy of actual empty weight of the vehicle (vehicle) with the empty weight of vehicle specified

in the vehicle registration certificate (VRC). Often, according to the results of weighing an empty vehicle, facts of inconsistency with the VRC data are revealed, and carriers are subject to liability under part 5 of Article 590 of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

-             there were difficulties associated with the lack of LSI regulating the work of coordinating organizations represented by KazAvtoZhol and KTZh in the issue of coordinating the route of transportation of BHC when obtaining a special permit;

-             as a result of formal work of coordinating organizations, carriers face problems with the passage of road engineering structures. One of these sections is a bridge located in the Tyulkubas area, where passage by height is possible only in the oncoming lane.

One of the important issues is inspections by a mobile transport control post (MTCP) for vehicles transporting BHC.

The working procedure of MTCP and the Situation Center are determined by the Rules for Organizing the work of Transport Control Posts on the Territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, approved by Order No. 362 of the Acting Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated August 13,2010.

When performing a state function, the actions of officials of MTCP and the Situation Center often cause disagreement and questions among carriers.

Thus, according to the requirements of the Rules of Operation of the Posts, the measurement of the actual weight parameters of the vehicle on mobile scales is carried out at pre-determined sites, the list of which is approved by the Head of the inspection in agreement with the Committee.

At the moment, the transportation of wind turbines in Kazakhstan faces a number of other, more objective problems affecting the efficiency and cost of wind energy projects. Below are few existing and potential problems.

Infrastructure and road network:

•             Lack of specialized roads: Specialized vehicles and roads are required to transport large components of wind turbines. Some regions of Kazakhstan lack the necessary infrastructure.

Geographical features:

•             Remoteness of regions: Large wind power plants can be built in remote areas, which complicates logistics and transportation of equipment from remote locations to the construction site.

Climatic conditions:

•             Extreme weather conditions: Kazakhstan is characterized by a variety of climatic conditions, including strong winds, frosts and high temperatures.

These factors can create difficulties during transportation and installation of wind turbines.

Customs procedures:

•             Border crossing: As a rule, wind turbine components are supplied from abroad and, accordingly, border crossings and customs procedures cause delays and increase the cost of the project.

Technical limitations:

·        Inaccessibility of some areas: Some promising sites for construction of wind farms may be difficult for vehicles to access due to topographic features.

Training of performers:

·        Lack of qualified specialists: Transportation and installation of wind turbines require certain skills and experience. Lack of qualified specialists can affect the effectiveness of the project.

·        To overcome these problems, it is important to carry out detailed planning and coordination during the development of wind energy projects. This includes collaborating with logistics companies, developing infrastructure, and improving the technical ski I Is of the workforce. Strategic partnerships with local authorities, educational institutions and industrial enterprises can also help solve these problems.

·        In the transportation of wind turbines in Kazakhstan, an integrated approach is required, including improving infrastructure, logistics and coordination.

Here are some ways to solve these problems:

1.           Infrastructure development:

·        Construction of specialized roads: The development of special roads designed to transport large components of wind turbines can significantly improve the logistical situation.

2.           Improving logistics:

·        Route optimization: The use of modern technologies to optimize routes and select the most efficient and safe transportation routes.

·        Thorough planning and coordination: Thorough planning of all stages of transportation, including loading, unloading and intermediate points, can reduce risks and prevent delays.

3.           Improving the energy grid infrastructure:

·        Preliminary development of power grids: The development of power grid infrastructure in areas with great potential for wind power can facilitate the integration of wind power plants into the existing energy system.

4.           Technological innovations:

·        Development of compact models of wind turbines: Creation of compact and lightweight models of wind turbines can reduce the complexity and costs of their transportation.

·        Self-assembly technologies: The development of technologies that allow assembling wind turbines on site can simplify the process and reduce dependence on complex logistics.

5.           Cooperation with local authorities and educational institutions:

·        Vocational training: Development of vocational training programs for workforce involved in wind energy projects will help to improve their qualifications and reduce possible problems during transportation and installation.

6.           International cooperation:

·        The experience of international companies: The involvement of international companies with experience in the field of wind energy can contribute to the transfer of best practices and technologies to Kazakhstan.

7.           Environmental assessments and standards:

·        Environmental assessments of transport: Conducting environmental assessments to determine the optimal modes of transportation, taking into account environmental impacts.

·        Solving these problems requires joint efforts of the Government, the business sector and local communities. Only within the framework of an integrated approach and cooperation will it be possible to create an effective and sustainable system for the transportation of wind turbines in Kazakhstan.