ASTANA (TCA) — Kazakhstan is attracting strategic investors to the energy saving sphere. One of the mechanisms for achieving this goal is the creation of an Energy Efficiency Map, a single national list of projects in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency improvement, indicating the sources of financing, schedules and action plans for their implementation, Olzhas Alibekov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Development of Electricity and Energy Saving JSC, said at a briefing on January 26, the official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reported.
To date, more than 50 memorandums have been concluded with such companies as Fenice Rus, one of the leading energy service companies in Russia; CH Lighting Technology Co., a large manufacturer of lighting equipment in China; Energy Engineers GmbH (TÜV Nord Group), a large energy service company of East Germany; and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd/Marubeni, a Japanese TNC, attracted as a strategic investor to the market of Kazakhstan for the introduction of gas turbine units with the function of cogeneration at thermal power facilities with the implementation of pilot projects in 2018-2019.
To adopt the experience of Germany, a strategic partner, represented by the DENA German energy agency, has been identified. Since 2017, a number of joint projects have been planned with DENA to raise awareness of energy saving in the industrial and municipal sectors.
Alibekov also said that a number of joint energy saving projects are being implemented in Kazakhstan with ADB, UNDP, the World Bank and other international organizations. As part of a long-term energy efficiency project, the World Bank is planning to launch a pilot information campaign “Initiative – Energy Efficient Kazakhstan”.
“With the World Bank, we are implementing a grant project for $21.7 million, which plans to modernize social facilities: schools, hospitals, as well as street lighting,” Alibekov said.
