The Kazakh billionaire plans to build a cascade of Turgusun HPPs
In Eastern Kazakhstan, according to local authorities, it is planned to build as many as four hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 58.3 MW in the coming years. Among them: 1.4 MW in Katon-Karagai district until 2027, 50 MW in Altai district until 2029 and 6.9 MW in Zaisan district until 2029.
Ratel.kz wrote that renewable energy in the Altai region is of interest to the family of Danial Akhmetov (ex-Prime Minister of Kazakhstan and former akim of the East Kazakhstan region). Or rather, his son Talgat Akhmetov, one of the youngest dollar billionaires in the country. Askar Mamin, who was then Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, came to the construction of one of these facilities — the Turgusun HPP.
The hydraulic power plant on the Turgusun River with a capacity of 24.9 megawatts will be the starting point for the construction of a cascade of hydroelectric power plants that will reduce the energy deficit in the region. The piquancy of the situation is that the customer of the construction of the HPP is Turgusun—1 LLP, among the founders of which is Eco Energy LLP, headed by Talgat Danilovich. The general contractor for the construction of the hydroelectric power station at one time was KAZ.InterGroup PV LLP, owned by Talgat Akhmetov. In addition to the son of the akim of the region, the co-founders of Turgusun—1 LLP and Gabbas Bekturov are the husband of Gulnas Kenzhetaevna Akhmetova, the sister of the ex-akim of East Kazakhstan Region.
But back to the upcoming projects. The Department of Energy and Housing and Communal Services of the East Kazakhstan region informed us that one of the hydroelectric power stations – near the village of Bogatyrevo – is going to be built by the limited liability partnership “Turgusun–2”. The hydroelectric power plant is promised to be commissioned in 2029. The rest of the hydropower plants in other areas are going to be built by other companies.
— To date, feasibility studies are being developed for all these facilities. The construction of the HPP will be financed at the expense of own and borrowed funds of the initiators of the projects. The exact cost of implementation will be determined after completion of the development of design and estimate documentation. Public hearings on the projects are planned to be held at the stage of development of the PSA in accordance with existing legislation, — said Deputy head of the department Nauryzbai Sarmurzin.
It is easy to guess that Talgat Akhmetov and his firm Eco Energy LLP are among the founders of Turgusun-2 LLP.
By the way, Turgusun-1 LLP, after commissioning the first hydroelectric power station on Turgusun, makes a good profit. According to the tax committee, last year the company paid 130 million tenge of taxes and this year it has already more than one hundred million.
It should be noted that the Akhmetov interests do not end with the construction of the Bogatyrevo hydroelectric power station. The plans include the construction of Turgusunskaya HPP-2 and Turgusunskaya HPP-3. But, apparently, it will not be soon.
“Turgusunskaya HPP-2 will help partially meet the increasing demand for electricity in the East Kazakhstan region and reduce the deficit by 127 million kilowatt hours per year, this will reduce dependence on electricity supplies from other regions and increase the energy independence of the region. The station will provide more than 400 new jobs, create demand for engineering specialties among young people. Turgusunskaya HPP-3 will help partially meet the increasing demand for electricity in the East Kazakhstan region and reduce the deficit by 62 million kilowatt hours per year,” the rationale for these projects says.
Anton Sergienko (Ratel.kz )
