Together we will make the air of Astana much cleaner

On March 5, President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, made a live proposal on five social initiatives. According to the experts, when implementing a set of initiatives, each of which is aimed at solving a particular topical issue, the interests of several million people of the country will be addressed. The very next day, during the government meeting, Prime Minister Sagintayev distributed among the Ministers the tasks previously assigned by the President. Among other things, the social presidential program covers the issue of gasification of Astana, Central and Northern regions of Kazakhstan.

Expert comments on the prospects of solving the gas issue we received from the Director of Global Gas Regazification, Panayot Saulidi:

The President's initiative concerning gas supply to the population and improvement of ecological situation in the country is certainly one of our priorities: for several years our team has been working on implementation of the General scheme of gasification of the Republic of Kazakhstan in terms of gasification of Astana and the Northern regions of Kazakhstan pursuant to 2014 government resolution.

To date, we have certain resources, understanding, experience and a strategy adjusted with the Astana development master plan for construction of the capital gas infrastructure to prepare it for connection to the main gas pipeline.

Many experts in the gas industry are now talking about the tight deadlines set by the Head of State for implementation of the initiative. However, I believe that the task set by the President can be solved in time, but only if the efforts of all players of the gas market are consolidated: while “Sary Arka” pipeline is being constructed, it is necessary to construct simultaneously, at an accelerated pace, the intercity distribution networks and associated infrastructure. As I said, our specialists have enough experience and knowledge to do this. Moreover, Global Gas Regazification today has the necessary fuel resources.

In conclusion, I want to focus on the main effect of gasification. A significant improvement in the environmental situation in the gasified regions, perhaps, is the main goal for which we are all working today. As the Head of Kazakhstan has already said in his speech, the amount of emissions will reduce by 6 times due to conversion of CHP and private sector to gas.

I would like to note that about 50% of air pollution in the capital comes from motor transport because of low environmental class of fuel used. We have successful experience in supplying clean gas motor fuel to passenger buses that served visitors of the international exhibition Expo-2017 in Astana, and I believe that it is urgently necessary to carry out a systematic conversion of all urban transport to gas. In this regard, the state should play a major role, stimulating by its example development of this direction, after which the trend will be picked up by both commercial transport enterprises and ordinary motorists.

Combined work in both these areas will lead us to the desired result: the amount of environmental emissions destroying the citizens’ health will be significantly reduced. I hope that together we will make the air of Astana much cleaner and bring comfort and coziness to every home.