Construction - The Times Of Central Asia

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Chinese Company to Help Build Central Asia’s Longest Bridge in Tajikistan

Tajikistan is set to begin construction on the longest highway bridge in Central Asia, a key component of the third phase of the Obigarm-Nurabad highway project. The implementation agreement was signed between Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport and the Tajik branch of the Chinese company Zhejiang Communications Construction Group Co. Ltd. (CCCC). The document was signed by Tajik Minister of Transport Azim Ibrohim and CCCC representative Li Mingkun. The bridge, spanning 920 meters (1,500 meters including access roads), will cross the Surkhob River in Nurabad district, making it the largest infrastructure project of its kind in the region. “The construction of the bridge should be completed with high quality and within the stipulated time frame, but we hope the work can be finished even earlier,” Ibrohim said. The project, estimated at CNY 427.5 million (approximately $59.8 million), is scheduled for completion within four years, with both local and international experts involved. Design and feasibility studies were prepared by South Korean firms Dong Maeng Engineering Company, Seng Engineering Company, and Susang Engineering Company, in collaboration with the Institute of Transport Facilities Design under Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport. Li Mingkun emphasized that CCCC has prior experience in Tajikistan, having participated in the construction of roads and bridges. This project aligns with the country’s strategy to overcome transport isolation and establish itself as a key regional transit hub.

Construction Infrastructure Projects Investment Projects City Planning

Kyrgyzstan to Build Large Residential Complex with IT Hub in Osh

Kyrgyzstan has launched the construction of an IT town as part of the large-scale project, an initiative aimed at transforming Osh, the country’s second-largest city. Speaking at the launch ceremony on February 14, President Sadyr Japarov stated that the project’s main goal is to ensure sustainable regional development through modern technology and large-scale housing construction. The Osh project will include a residential complex with over 10,000 apartments, covering a total area of 1 million square meters. The development will feature modern schools and kindergartens; medical facilities and gyms; pedestrian and bicycle paths; green recreation areas; and children’s playgrounds. A key component of the project, the IT town, will serve as an innovation hub for entrepreneurs and IT specialists, offering modern residential, social, and commercial infrastructure. According to Japarov, the growth of the IT sector will enhance Kyrgyzstan’s global competitiveness, accelerating economic, social, and technological development in Osh and beyond. The initiative is expected to strengthen trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties, while also attracting more foreign tourists. Japarov noted that thousands of jobs will be created during the construction process, helping to reduce migration levels. Once completed, the Osh project will generate employment in housing services, education, healthcare, and the IT industry. The IT town is envisioned as a magnet for IT professionals, drawing specialists from across Kyrgyzstan and abroad.

economic International investment Infrastructure Development Construction

British Company to Produce Flexible Concrete Material in Kyrgyzstan

The government of Kyrgyzstan and British company Concrete Canvas have signed an agreement to build a plant in Kyrgyzstan that will produce flexible concrete canvas, the government’s press service announced on February 6. Concrete Canvas manufactures waterproof, flexible, concrete-filled geosynthetic composite mats, primarily used to line irrigation canals to prevent erosion and reduce seepage losses. The planned production capacity of the new plant is at least 5 million square meters of concrete canvas per year. At the signing ceremony in Bishkek, Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, Adylbek Kasymaliyev, highlighted the project as an example of an effective public-private partnership. He noted that five tons of this innovative material could replace 100 tons of cement in canal lining, significantly improving installation efficiency while delivering the same expected results. The agreement follows negotiations in April 2024, when representatives of Concrete Canvas visited Kyrgyzstan to discuss the project. The talks involved Kyrgyz Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, Bakyt Torobayev, and the then British Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, who was on an official visit. Torobayev underscored the importance of the material, stating, “Across Kyrgyzstan, the length of canals is 30,000 km, including 11,000 km of unsurfaced canals. By laying concrete material on these canals, we will avoid seepage of water and ensure its efficient use. Kyrgyzstan is an agricultural country with a lot of arable land, so we really need such materials.” He also confirmed that the British company’s plant will be built in the Osh region, in southern Kyrgyzstan.

Energy Russia Construction Energy Infrastructure

Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Discusses Construction of Three CHP Plants with Russian Participation

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy, Almasadam Satkaliev, has provided an update on the construction of three combined heat and power (CHP) plants in the Akmola, East Kazakhstan, and Abay regions, projects in which Russia is involved. Russia’s involvement in constructing these cogeneration plants was first announced in 2023 by Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Serik Zhumangarin, during a forum on interregional cooperation between the two countries. Subsequently, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy drafted a corresponding government resolution. According to Satkaliev, the feasibility study for the Kokshetau thermal power plant is now in its final stage. “We have started designing. Moreover, in the first stage, on-site preparation and clearing have already begun. We have practically started the construction of auxiliary infrastructure. For the Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk plants, we expect to finalize feasibility studies this spring and will announce the figures later,” the minister stated. Satkaliev stressed that project costs remain a critical issue for Kazakhstan, and negotiations on financing will be conducted under strict conditions. “Samruk-Energo, which represents Kazakhstan in these projects, has been given the necessary instructions. Our primary financing scenario involves a loan from the Russian government with subsidization. Negotiations are ongoing, particularly regarding the amount of financing. Despite limited funding sources, we will take all necessary measures to ensure the timely construction of these plants, given their importance for economic security,” he stated. On January 28, during an expanded government meeting, Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev criticized the authorities' performance in the heat supply sector.

Russia Construction Regional Cooperation public transport railroads

Tajikistan and Russia Discuss Resuming Rail and Bus Routes

Tajikistan and Russia are in discussions to resume passenger train service between Dushanbe and Moscow, as well as bus routes between cities in both countries. These services were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tajikistan’s Minister of Transport, Azim Ibrohim, shared this information at a press conference in response to a question from TASS. He said the issue was discussed in Moscow during a meeting between the Tajik delegation and Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit at the CIS Coordination Transport Conference. “We addressed many transport-related issues and reached a full understanding. There were no unresolved matters, but some require time, including the Dushanbe-Moscow railway route,” Ibrohim stated. He added that discussions are ongoing, with a final decision expected soon. The minister also noted that rail service between Bishkek and Moscow resumed late last year. In addition to rail services, Tajikistan and Russia are working to expand bus connections. In mid-January, bus routes from Khujand to Novosibirsk, Tyumen, and Surgut were restored. Currently, passenger trains from Tajikistan — departing from Dushanbe, Kulyab, and Khujand — only operate to Volgograd. If negotiations succeed, the resumption of direct rail and bus links will further facilitate travel and trade between the two countries.

Transport Construction Traffic Infrastructure Development City Agglomeration public transport

Astana’s Long-Awaited LRT Project Set to Launch Next Year

Zhenis Kassymbek, the Akim (governor) of Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, has announced that the city’s first light rail transit (LRT) line will launch by the end of next year, marking a significant milestone in a 13-year-long construction project fraught with delays and controversies. The LRT project, envisioned as a high-speed transport system running on elevated tracks to bypass traffic, began construction in 2011. Initially, the line was slated for completion by 2017 to coincide with the EXPO international exhibition. It was intended to connect the Astana-Nurly Zhol railway station with the capital’s airport. While the railway station opened on time, the LRT project was halted in 2013 due to high costs and concerns over its financial viability. The project was revived in 2015 when Astana’s Akimat signed a construction deal with a consortium of Chinese companies, China Railway International Group Limited and Beijing State-Owned Assets Management Co., Ltd. However, further delays occurred when funds — amounting to over 80 billion tenge ($200 million at the time) — were frozen in the accounts of the now-defunct Bank of Astana. Construction began with the installation of support pillars, but the Chinese contractors abandoned the project due to funding issues. In 2019, Kazakhstan’s investigative authorities intervened. Talgat Ardan, the former head of Astana LRT, and Kanat Sultanbekov, an ex-deputy mayor of Astana, were accused of embezzling nearly 30 billion tenge. This included inflating project costs and awarding overpriced contracts. Both were sentenced in absentia to seven years in prison in May 2023. Despite initial skepticism from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who questioned the project’s ridership potential given its 22-kilometer length and route, the decision was made to proceed. Former Akim Altay Kulginov argued that dismantling the incomplete infrastructure would cost more than completing it. Under Kassymbek, construction has progressed. “The first LRT trains will arrive in August or September next year. We expect to have 15 trains operational by fall, with technical testing by the end of 2024 and full service in early 2026,” Kassymbek stated during a briefing. The elevated tracks are nearing completion, with rail-laying in progress. Signal installation is set to begin in spring. The Akimat anticipates the line will serve approximately 20,000 passengers daily. The fare for LRT rides has yet to be finalized. Kassymbek announced that the pricing would remain affordable. However, he stopped short of providing specifics. In 2017, the proposed fare was 300 tenge per ride, three times the cost of a bus ticket at that time. Current bus fares in Astana range from 110 tenge for regular routes to 250 tenge for express routes. Given the LRT’s total project cost of $1.88 billion, fares significantly higher than bus rates may be needed to achieve profitability. Despite this, the LRT could address pressing issues, such as Astana’s daily traffic jams. Currently, buses are the only public transport option in the city. “We aim to expand roads, increase bridges, and enhance public transport to encourage residents to switch from private vehicles,” Kassymbek said. He also suggested that Turkestan and...