Massimov: Gas supply to Almaty and south Kazakhstan is very important

Gas supply in Almaty and southern regions of Kazakhstan is very important, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Kazakhstan Prime-Minister Karim Massimov as saying at the meeting in the Senate on November 3. “Gas supply in Almaty and southern regions of Kazakhstan is very important and will open new opportunities for construction of industrial facilities,” Massimov said answering the question of Senator Zhumabek Turgeldinov. According to the head of the government, “all the principal issues on funding of construction of gas pipeline to south Kazakhstan have already been resolved and the first stage of construction of Beineu-Bozoi-Akbulak gas pipeline is already underway." “Southern regions of Kazakhstan will have an opportunity to use Kazakhstan’s own gas,” Massimov said. The decision on gas supply to the south of the country will be taken after careful review in the government. Construction of Beineu-Bozoi-Akbulak gas pipeline will allow to supply gas from western gas fields to the south of the country. Capacity of gas pumping at the first stage will make 5 billion cubic meters per year. The route of 1,475-km gas pipeline goes across the territory of Mangistau, Aktobe, Kyzylorda and South-Kazakhstan oblasts. Construction of the first stage, linear 1,164-km part of Bozoi-Shymkent section and compressor station near Bozoi village of Aktobe oblast is scheduled to be completed in 2013. The second stage is to be completed by 2014-2015. 23 branch lines will be simultaneously constructed towards villages and towns located along the pipeline. The plan is that construction process will involve over 2 thousand different experts and 500 jobs will be created after start-up of the first stage.