Irtysh River Hydroscheme Completion Delayed Amid Contractor Problems

Omsk Oblast Governor Vitaly Khotsenko and the Head of the Federal Agency for Water Resources, Dmitry Kirillov, held a working meeting on February 6 regarding the completion of the Krasnogorsky water-lifting hydroscheme, a strategically important facility on the transboundary Irtysh River.

The primary topic was an assessment of the current situation at the construction site. The officials reviewed the pace of work, project design parameters, and the performance of the contracting organization. The governor acknowledged that the project’s implementation is facing difficulties. ‘The facility is complex, and there are questions regarding the pace of construction, the project design, and the contractor itself,’ stated Vitaly Khotsenko. A report from the Main State Expertise is expected shortly, after which the work schedule will be updated.

Work on the first stage of the hydroscheme’s completion resumed in the spring of 2022. The facility was initially scheduled for completion in the spring of 2024, but the deadline was later moved to September 2025. The situation was further complicated by problems with the contractor–in December, the company Mezoregionstroy LLC was added to the Register of Unscrupulous Suppliers. Regional and federal authorities are currently working to stabilize the situation and ensure the project’s successful completion.