The construction of two dams on the Koksu River has been suspended
After a number of publications in the media, social networks, as well as after our investigation, the public outcry seems to have become so strong that the akimat of the Zhetysu region published the following information on its official account:
“A plot of land with an area of 3.7 hectares for the construction of a Mining HPP in the Kerbulak district of the Zhetisu region was transferred to Energobildservice LLP by the decree of the akim of the region by July 1, 2025. According to the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on February 16, 2024, the object was assigned to the III category of objects having a minor negative impact on the environment by the Department of Ecology for the Zhetisu region.
Public hearings on this project were held from March 11 to March 18, 2024. There were no comments or suggestions from the public during the public hearings. On the part of Energobildservice LLP, in connection with the adjustment of the project documentation for the construction of Rudnichnaya HPP-1, HPP-2, on March 26, 2024, the section “Environmental Protection” was added to the working draft. The project was sent to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management of the Zhetisu region. The Department issued a positive conclusion of the state environmental assessment.
Meanwhile, during the meeting held by the head of the regional Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management with the participation of deputy akims of the Kerbulak district and the city of Tekeli, as well as a representative of Energobildservice LLP, it was decided to temporarily suspend construction until all circumstances were clarified. It was also decided to hold a meeting with the participation of the interested public on the construction of Rudnichnaya HPP-1, HPP-2.”
Under this publication, dozens of residents of Zhetysu wrote their angry comments.
“Rafting is developing on this section of the river, international competitions are taking place, the rafting federation was opened two years ago. The school has already started training to educate and attract young people. Kayakers and rafters come every year to train and develop tourism in our region. I am categorically against this construction. And as for the hearing, they didn’t listen to anyone,” writes local resident Yevgeny.
“Nonsense, how could environmentalists approve at all? They did not take into account that there are animals in the pond. It will be a dam-accumulator of stagnant water, the fish will die, the flow of water will subside. Where is the ecology and convenience of tourism here? Do not deceive people. All nature will come to an end. From the fact that nature is constantly being destroyed, and all anomalies occur. And in recent years, natural disasters have often occurred.
Think and think, akim and environmentalists, before you do something. We should have a task about the preservation of nature, not its destruction. The whole river has already changed on the Bark, the fish are gone, even the birds don’t come, there were so many ducks. And it didn’t lead to anything good, the water subsided and everything became bad. There is no full-fledged tourism, people have nothing to show. That’s why we have storage dams,” Inga is indignant.
Ali KARABALIN, the project manager and representative of Energobildservice LLP, is trying to calm the angry eco-activists and residents of Zhetysu with promises to discuss construction issues with them, however, for some reason retroactively.
— In September last year, we received all the permits. A full package of documents has been provided in accordance with the regulations, all examinations have been completed. The requirements were strict in terms of ecology. Everyone thinks that everything will be flooded here, but there will be a small storage. We intend to meet with those companies that are engaged in tourism, to find understanding with them. We are ready to create conditions to minimally infringe on their interests,” said Ali Karabalin, project manager for the construction of the Rudnichny 1-2 hydroelectric power station.
The director of the State Enterprise “Taldykorgan Forestry” Madi OKHANOV did not stay away from the resonant public agenda. According to him, they have suspended construction work until an indefinite time.
— We have 185 hectares of land in the forestry, the place where the hydroelectric power station will be built belongs to the Koksu forestry, there is an area of 87 hectares. Due to the fact that the public is outraged, we have suspended all construction work, we will wait for the results of the investigation,” explained Madi Okhanov.
What is surprising in this story is that the land plot for construction was issued in September of this year until July 1, 2025. Is it really possible to build two hydroelectric power stations in such a short time? Or do contractors intend to carry out work in the bitter winter cold? In this case, what can be said in the future about the quality of the erected objects.
Aliya Akhmedieva (Ratel.kz )
