QAZAQ GREEN.  The construction of a cascade of river hydroelectric power plants on Ugam will not only defuse an issue of the electricity shortage, but also solve the problem of high-quality drinking water - Kazakhstanskaya Pravda writes.

Information on such a large-scale project was first announced by the akim of the region Umirzak Shukeyev during his meeting with the population. Lifting the veil on near future, Umirzak Estayevich told about the projects being implemented in the field of the energy complex, the development of small and medium-sized businesses and attracting private investment to the region.

Ambitions plans include construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the Ugam River. According to Umirzak Shukeyev, this project alone will attract 293.3 billion tenge of private investment to the region. The total cost of the project, and even then this amount is approximate, will amount to over 700 billion tenge.

"When implementing this project, we will fully provide the population of the South-Kazakhstan Region with the purest drinking water" - Umirzak Shukeyev stressed the importance of this initiative for the region. – Moreover, we will solve the problem of energy ­dependence. Every year there is a shortage of electricity in the country. With a demand of 320 megawatts, about 80% of the required electricity is supplied to the region from external generating sources. The project is planned to be completed in 2026."

The idea of building a hydroelectric power plant on the Ugam mountain river is not new. This issue has been raised from time to time since the mid-70s of the last century. Then, at the initiative of the former first secretary of the regional party committee Asanbai Askarov, the institute "Tashgidroproekt" studied the possibility of building small hydroelectric power plants on Ugam and prepared an appropriate justification for this. But after Asanbai Askarov left the post, all work on the project was scaled down, although from time to time they returned to it already in the years of independence, but the matter did not progress beyond the development of a preliminary feasibility study.

The construction of a group water pipeline with a cascade of hydroelectric power plants in the Kazygurt region will provide high–quality drinking water to about a million residents of five areas - Kazygurt, Saryagash, Kelessky, Zhetysai and Maktaaralsk. In addition, the project provides for the construction of a cascade of 10 hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 165.6 MW.

The development of ­feasibility study of the project consists of two stages. The total project cost of the feasibility study is 1,014.5 million tenge. In 2021-2022, 523.6 million tenge was allocated from the regional budget.

At the first stage, a group water supply system is being designed from the Ugam gorge to the settlement Zhanabazar with the construction of a cascade of hydroelectric power plants. Seven of them are supposed to be built directly along the Ugam riverbed, three more – along the group water pipeline.

At the second stage, the designers will develop a project of a group water pipeline to provide drinking water to the southern areas of the region.

"This is a necessary and important project for us, I support it," - says Honored Power Engineer of the CIS Maksud Ordabayev. – First of all, it is drinking water, which we already lack so much. Several areas, including Shymkent, can be provided with the purest mountain water. And, secondly, it is the generation of electricity, which is of great value for the energy-deficient region, i.e. South-Kazakhstan region. Therefore, I have always followed this project, always proposed it, considering it relevant. Of course, there are problematic issues related to ecology, since the Ugam Valley is the only closed mountain valley in the southern region of Kazakhstan where the ecological environment is not disturbed. Rare animals live there, the flora is rich. These issues are being discussed now­. I think they are all solvable."

The administration of the region has already appealed to the Ministry of Ecology with a request to assist in the adjustment of the functional zoning of the Sairam-Ugam State National Natural Park and the allocation of a land plot of 850,9 hectares from its territory for the construction of structures provided for by the project. At the same time, it is planned to allocate 70.2 hectares from the protected area of the natural park, 63.2 hectares from the zone of ecological stabilization, and 340.5 and 377 hectares from the zones of tourism, recreation and limited economic activity.

To implement the project, support from the Government is needed in the registration of the necessary land plot. In addition to solving environmental issues and land allotment, the region has identified a number of other ­problems that require the assistance of ­central authorities. Thus, the investor will help to construct a water pipeline to Zhanabazar settlement in the Kazygurt area. The length to the reservoir is 40 km. It is necessary to solve the issue of the construction of main water supply networks from the reservoir to the settlements of Kazygurt, Saryagash, Maktaaral, Zhetysay, Shardarinsky area with the support from ­RSE "Kazvodkhoz".

It is also required to conclude a PPP agreement providing for investor's guarantee of the purchase of water. It is necessary to allocate funds from the republican budget for the construction of supply infrastructure facilities within the framework of "Business Roadmap-2025". The project provides for construction of a main water pipeline from the reservoir to settlements, as well as the design and construction of 110-35 kV substation for delivery of power from the cascade of hydroelectric power plants.