Infrastructure - The Times Of Central Asia

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Construction

Kazakhstan Mandates BIM Design for All New Buildings

Kazakhstan has approved a digitalization plan for its construction sector that mandates the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for all new residential and commercial developments. According to the press service of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiev and Minister of Industry and Construction Yersayin Nagaspayev have jointly endorsed the 2026-2027 plan to digitize the construction industry. The initiative outlines the sector’s digital transformation across the full lifecycle of facilities from planning and design to construction, commissioning, and post-construction operation. “The plan includes a series of practical measures aimed at simplifying and accelerating construction processes,” the press service stated. “Among the priorities are mandatory BIM design, automation of public services in construction, creation of digital facility passports, and conversion of building norms and standards into machine-readable formats. These changes are expected to reduce manual processes, minimize errors, and improve predictability in project delivery.” BIM design integrates data on geometry, technical characteristics, and construction processes into a unified digital model, enabling stakeholders to coordinate changes, assess design decisions, and identify potential issues prior to construction. Its adoption is expected to enhance quality, efficiency, and coordination throughout a project’s lifespan from conception to demolition. The digitalization drive is also intended to increase transparency in the sector, reduce costs and timelines, lower administrative barriers, and improve the safety and quality of construction projects. In a related development, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recently signed a new Construction Code aimed at streamlining regulations in architecture, urban planning, and construction. The code seeks to improve procedural transparency and establish uniform rules for all market participants. The document clarifies permit procedures, reinforces quality control, and standardizes construction materials and technologies. Following criticism from the business community, the Ministry of Industry and Construction revised the draft to address key concerns. Nazira Usenova, deputy chair of the board of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, noted that some provisions risked complicating processes and increasing bureaucratic burdens. “What is important for the industry is not the number of control mechanisms, but their effectiveness and predictability,” she said. Compromise solutions were ultimately reached on the most sensitive issues. Experts have cautioned, however, that some provisions will require further scrutiny during implementation.Viktor Mikryukov, president of the Association of Developers of Kazakhstan, said transparency and consistency were essential. “The new rules must not become a tool for excessive pressure on entrepreneurs. Their application must avoid broad interpretation by regulators and ensure uniformity across Kazakhstan.” Among the key agreements reached was the retention of a five-year warranty period for completed construction projects and a ten-year warranty for structural elements, including the load-bearing frame, facade, and roof. The Code also promotes self-regulation, improves engineering and technical certification standards, furthers digitization, strengthens oversight in seismic zones, expands the powers of local maslikhats, and enhances public involvement in urban planning. The Construction Code will come into force on July 1. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan launched a unified electronic construction platform on...

Industrial Cities

Kazakhstan’s Rust Belt: Why Modernized Power Plants Aren’t Stopping Urban Decline

The onset of winter in 2025 served as a stress test for Kazakhstan’s industrial north, and by most measures, the country passed. After high-profile heating system failures in cities such as Ekibastuz and Ridder in previous years, when entire neighborhoods were left without heat in temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius, the authorities were forced to move beyond piecemeal repairs toward large-scale emergency interventions. The state invested unprecedented resources into overhauling heating networks and modernizing thermal power plants in single-industry cities and smaller industrial settlements across the region. Significant budget allocations helped stabilize the most vulnerable infrastructure. Emergency repair calls gave way to routine updates from local authorities, and utility breakdowns shifted from the realm of crisis to that of manageable risk. By this winter, the basic issue of urban survival had been resolved. For regions with aging infrastructure and high industrial dependency, this marked a crucial transition from systemic failure to fragile stability. The Future Votes with Its Feet Yet behind the upgraded pipes and boilers lies a deeper structural issue. Cities such as Ekibastuz, Rudny, Temirtau, Balkhash, and many others were pillars of Soviet-era industrialization. In today’s market-driven Kazakhstan, many are rapidly losing both economic relevance and population. The term “rust belt,” borrowed from post-industrial regions of the United States, has increasingly entered national discourse. While the state focuses on fixing infrastructure, residents are asking a more fundamental question: do these industrial cities have a future? The answer, many argue, lies not in kilometers of new piping but in people, and the data is clear. Single-industry cities are aging and shrinking. Even where wages exceed 1,200 dollars per month, well above the national average, young people are still leaving. The issue is less about income than about quality of life. A stable job is no longer enough for younger generations. They also want livable cities, modern schools, safety, leisure opportunities, and green spaces, amenities these places often lack. As a result, migration from northern and eastern regions to Astana and Almaty continues, fueling an imbalance. The megacities are overstretched, while industrial cities face growing labor shortages. Exceptions to the Rule Amid the general decline, the city of Saran in the Karaganda Region stands out as a rare success story. Just a decade ago, it was a struggling mining city facing significant population outflow. Today, it is a flagship of Kazakhstan’s single-industry city revitalization program. Saran’s turnaround hinged on radical economic diversification. The establishment of an industrial zone and the arrival of new anchor investors not tied to coal mining fundamentally changed the employment landscape. The launch of the KamaTyresKZ plant, along with household appliance manufacturers and the QazTehna bus assembly plant, has stimulated both economic and social development. Authorities now point to Saran as proof that a single-industry city can transition into a manufacturing hub under the right conditions. However, its success is also attributed to unique logistical advantages, notably proximity to Karaganda and substantial state support. Replicating the Saran effect in more remote cities such as...

Sports

Kazakhstan Football’s European Breakthrough Amid Grassroots Struggles

Kazakhstan’s football is undergoing a pivotal transformation. While FC Kairat made history this year by qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stage and is set to face Real Madrid later this month, youth and grassroots football remain critically underdeveloped, according to a recent analysis by Ranking.kz. Mass Participation, Mixed Results Football remains the most popular sport in Kazakhstan. In 2024, approximately 1.5 million people played the game, accounting for a quarter of all those involved in organized sports. These figures exclude informal games played on streets or university campuses. There were 18,600 football groups and 8,100 futsal groups across the country in 2024, reflecting year-on-year growth of 5% and 26.8%, respectively. The number of coaches also rose, reaching 7,400 in football and 2,400 in futsal. Despite these numbers, development at the youth level remains modest. Only 43,500 young players trained in sports schools, and fewer than 1,000 achieved a first-class sports rank. Not a single Kazakh footballer earned the title of International Master of Sport in 2024. Women’s football continues to decline: the number of girls enrolled in sports schools dropped by one-third to 155, while the number of coaches fell from 11 to just eight. Structural Deficiencies Experts highlight a shortage of qualified coaches and inadequate training infrastructure as major barriers. Only two-thirds of current coaches have formal sports education, and just four nationwide hold the highest coaching category. Winter training remains especially problematic, with many teams forced into small gyms or school halls due to the lack of proper facilities. As of 2024, Kazakhstan had only 220 football arenas and 28 stadiums. Following the national team’s recent defeat to Belgium, Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF) President Marat Omarov acknowledged the long-standing infrastructure issues. “My responsibility is to develop systemic football. For many years, infrastructure has been the main challenge, and I am responsible for addressing it,” he said. According to a 2024 Youth Research Center survey, 15% of urban youth and over 25% of rural youth do not play sports due to a lack of nearby facilities. Nevertheless, grassroots football remains vital for developing elite talent. FC Kairat academy graduate Dastan Satpayev is expected to join Chelsea in 2026, Nuraly Alip currently plays for Zenit St. Petersburg, and 14-year-old Nurkanat Nurmakhanuly from Turkestan region has received an invitation to join Atletico Madrid’s academy. State and Private Sector Engagement Youth sports in Kazakhstan remain predominantly state-funded, but private investment is increasing. In summer 2025, Alatau City Bank became the general sponsor of the KFF, title partner of the Premier League, and official sponsor of national teams, covering league operations and supporting youth football development. Kazakhstan has also become a focus for international partnerships. It is one of 11 countries selected by FIFA for the FIFA Arena project, which aims to build 100 modern mini-football pitches in schools across the country. Kazakhstan’s breakthrough in European football marks a visible success for a sport on the rise. Yet experts note that lasting progress will require systemic investment: training qualified coaches, expanding...

History

“A Road Not for the Faint-Hearted”: How Austrian Prisoners of War Built a Tourist Path in East Kazakhstan

A winding mountain road in East Kazakhstan has become a point of fascination not only for tourists but also for historians, filmmakers, and researchers. Known variously as the Old Austrian Road, the Austrian Route, or Irek Zhol (“Winding Road”), this nearly 50-kilometer path connects the Katon-Karagai and Markakol districts, cutting through pristine wilderness in a national park and a state reserve. Today the path is being restored, but the road’s true value lies in a dramatic and little-known past that stretches back over a century. A New Chapter for an Old Road In July 2025, authorities announced the launch of extensive repair work on the Old Austrian Road. With a budget exceeding $1 million from the regional government, the project includes rebuilding a damaged bridge near Katon-Karagai, replacing culverts, reinforcing slopes, and rehabilitating impassable sections. The most challenging terrain lies near Lake Markakol, where the route crosses swampy stretches, sharp switchbacks, and granite outcroppings. Yet these obstacles have not deterred growing numbers of visitors, off-road enthusiasts, cyclists, hikers, and even horse riders, eager to explore the wild beauty of Eastern Kazakhstan. [caption id="attachment_35993" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: TCA/Yulia Chernyavskaya[/caption] The Road’s Origins in War and Captivity Though few know it, this scenic mountain route has deep strategic and historical roots. Long before the 20th century, locals used it as a trail for horses and carts. But by the early 1900s, the Russian Empire decided to formalize the path, partly due to the road’s proximity to the Chinese border. Between 1914 and 1916, the road was reconstructed, largely by Austrian prisoners of war, mainly ethnic Czechs, Slovaks, Hungarians, and Galicians, captured during World War I. According to Vienna-based historian Lana Berndl, who has conducted extensive research on the topic, roughly 800 prisoners were transported from Austria via St. Petersburg and Omsk to the Irtysh River and then forced to march to the village of Altai (now Katon-Karagai). Around 600 reached their destination. Construction began simultaneously from Katon-Karagai and Alekseevka. Despite working only in the warmer months, the prisoners built a road whose difficulty rivals Alpine passes. During the harsh winters, many worked on local farms and integrated into village life. Some even married and remained in Kazakhstan permanently. [caption id="attachment_35994" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: TCA/Yulia Chernyavskaya[/caption] Tragically, several were later repressed during Stalin’s purges. Among them was Ludwig Fritzen, a Hungarian prisoner who stayed, married a local woman, and was executed in 1937 after being accused of espionage. Remnants of this history remain: roughly 30 graves with Gothic-scripted crosses can still be found in old cemeteries throughout the region, silent testimonies to those who built the road under extreme duress. Film Rekindles Forgotten History In 2016, Austrian filmmaker Ruslana Berndl released a documentary titled The Austrian Road, which brought global attention to the forgotten story. She first learned about the road from a brief mention in a German travel guide that described it as “not for the faint-hearted” and built by Austrian POWs. Intrigued, Berndl, then a doctoral student at the University of...

Urban Renewal

Thousands of Illegal Structures Demolished in Bishkek as City Pushes Urban Renewal

More than 6,300 residential and commercial structures have been demolished in Bishkek during the first half of 2025, as part of an ongoing urban renovation program, according to the city administration. Authorities report that over 80,000 square meters of municipal land have been cleared as a result. The sweeping effort follows a comprehensive review of land use across the Kyrgyz capital. In recent weeks, tensions have flared in the Kok-Zhar residential area, where officials began enforcing demolition orders against homes built on land the government claims was illegally occupied. During one such operation, five individuals were detained and administrative cases were opened against 17 others who protested the demolition of their homes. Approximately 120 residents reportedly blocked roads in an attempt to halt construction equipment and defend their properties. Many disputed homes were built on land formerly designated for agricultural use, which had been sold and developed for residential purposes over the past decade. The area now includes around 1,200 plots, with some 700 single and two-story houses. City officials argue that updated urban planning requires the reclamation of these areas for future public infrastructure projects. A prominent example includes the demolition of private homes and fences along the southern section of Bishkek’s government highway, currently under renovation for official use. This redevelopment, which followed the construction of new government and presidential offices nearby, has resulted in dozens of families losing part or all of their properties. Some residents, however, have managed to successfully challenge the demolitions in court. In response to mounting public criticism, Bishkek Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev has proposed a subsidized state mortgage program for families affected by the demolitions. Supported by city council members, the initiative also includes the rapid allocation of municipal land for multi-apartment housing and the creation of a transparent waiting list. “Several dozen families whose homes were removed during the reconstruction of Bishkek’s northern bypass have already received housing under the program,” the city administration stated. Mayor Dzhunushaliev emphasized the administration’s commitment to fulfilling President Sadyr Japarov’s directive that every Kyrgyz family should have a home. At the same time, he stressed the importance of aligning land use with current legislation, especially in areas originally zoned for agriculture. Despite official assurances, many residents remain skeptical. Some insist their homes were built legally and that they possess valid documentation. While a few court decisions have favored homeowners, most have lost their legal challenges against the city.

Natural gas

Outdated Infrastructure Threatens Central Asia’s Energy Security

Central Asia’s natural gas sector is facing mounting pressure as population growth and rising consumption outpace production, SpecialEurasia reports. The region’s population now exceeds 70 million, with annual growth rates surpassing 2% in many republics. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan together account for more than 95% of Central Asia’s gas reserves. Combined, they hold approximately 3.5 trillion cubic meters (tcm) of proven reserves. Turkmenistan alone possesses an estimated 17 tcm, giving it the world’s fourth-largest proven gas reserves outside the Middle East and Russia. Despite these substantial reserves, aging infrastructure and insufficient investment continue to hamper production capacity. Kazakhstan produces around 59 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas annually, Uzbekistan 45 bcm, and Turkmenistan 81 bcm. However, surging domestic demand has outstripped supply, compelling Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to import gas from Russia, a dependency that dates back to the 1990s but is becoming increasingly fraught amid current geopolitical tensions. Much of the region’s pipeline infrastructure remains from the Soviet era and lacks the capacity to meet contemporary needs, according to SpecialEurasia. Turkmenistan remains heavily reliant on a single pipeline route to Russia, while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan depend on Russian energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft for imports and infrastructure maintenance. Efforts to diversify export routes beyond Russia have encountered difficulties due to limited infrastructure and geopolitical uncertainty. China has emerged as a dominant player in the region, funding pipeline and transportation projects through the Belt and Road Initiative. These investments have enhanced connectivity with Chinese markets but have also increased Central Asia’s economic dependence on Beijing. Meanwhile, the European Union has advocated for green energy and digitization, though its financial commitments remain modest compared to those of Russia and China. Iran is positioning itself as a potential transit corridor, offering Central Asia access to seaports. However, international sanctions and persistent geopolitical tensions continue to limit broader cooperation. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has further strained Moscow’s regional relationships, diminishing its capacity to provide the kind of support it once did. Central Asian governments now face the challenge of maintaining a strategic balance among Russia, China, and Western powers to ensure both economic resilience and political autonomy. SpecialEurasia concludes that without substantial investment in infrastructure, greater economic diversification, and a more balanced approach to foreign partnerships, Central Asia will remain vulnerable despite its abundant natural gas resources.