ASTANA (TCA) — One of the main tasks of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy for 2018 is further development of the country’s resource potential. The main instrument to achieve the goal is the new Code on Subsoil Use, which will come into force from July 2018, Minister of Energy Kanat Bozumbayev said at a press conference on January 22, the official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reported.
Bozumbayev emphasized that the tax policy in the sphere of subsoil use has been improved in Kazakhstan.
Speaking about the plans for the current year, the minister said that it is planned to introduce an electronic trading platform for the sale of liquefied petroleum gas with the gradual elimination of the marginal price from the state regulation. This, according to Bozumbayev, will improve the mechanism of pricing and distribution of liquefied petroleum gas. The necessary legislative norms will be worked out until December 2018.
This year, construction work will begin on the Polypropylene Production Project (worth $2.6 billion, with a capacity of 500,000 tons per year). For the Polyethylene Production Project — one of the largest investment projects (worth $6.5 billion, with a capacity of 1.2 million tons per year), a feasibility study will be completed to attract borrowed financing and state support measures will be provided for the project’s investor.
In 2018, Kazakhstan plans to complete Phase II of the 500 kV Shulbinskaya HPP (Semey)-Aktogay-Taldykorgan-Almaty line. Thus, the interregional project North-East-South will be fully completed by the end of 2018. The project is aimed at covering the electricity deficit of East Kazakhstan region and Almaty region and strengthening energy independence.
Speaking about the green and renewable energy market, the minister said that in 2017, 1.1 billion kWh of electricity was generated by renewable energy sources, which is 22% more than in 2016. The plan for 2018 is 1.7 billion kWh. This year, it is planned to commission 10 renewable energy facilities with a total capacity of 123 MW.
