Categories Kazakhstan

hydroelectric power station on the Koksu River: contractors are hastily digging canals

As it turned out, while defenders of the Koksu River in Kazakhstan are trying to determine the potential risks for nature from the construction of the Mine Hydroelectric Power Station cascade, project contractors are zealously digging canals:

ГЭС на реке Коксу: подрядчики спешно копают каналы

On Sunday, January 26, a large delegation of civil activists, officials, bloggers and journalists, despite the frosts, arrived at the construction site of two small hydroelectric power stations near the village of Rudnichny in the Zhetysu region. Contractor — EnergoBuildService LLP “” installed billboards in the fresh air advertising its project and once again told those present about the advantages of the new hydroelectric power stations.

— In general, from the main hydroelectric power station to the second – 12 km. We are building a cascade of two hydroelectric power stations. Total capacity – 42 MW. We can illuminate a city with 120 thousand inhabitants. We have passed the state examination and have all the permits. We have a website where you can view all the documents. There are no Red Book animals or plants on the site where we are building. Residents of nearby villages are not against it, they all agree. At the 12 km where we are building, there are no crops or agricultural lands,” noted project manager Ali Karabalin.

Environmental activist from the Eskeldinsky district Rinat Khamzin noted with surprise the scale and speed of construction.

—I’m surprised at the pace they’re building. I was last month and now a lot of work has been done here. Deep bypass channels have been dug to turn the river bed. Work here is in full swing, no one will stop this work, — believes Rinat Khamzin.

But the President of the Rafting Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Konstantin O, seems to continue to harbor illusions and even invites contractors to conclude a memorandum of cooperation with the public and find another place for their hydroelectric power stations.

— Let’s look elsewhere. Maybe you’ll waste time and a little more money, but you won’t ruin a unique place. Sowing will begin soon, and farmers may not have enough water. The Koksu River feeds groundwater, including under the territory of the national park “Altyn-Emel”. All this will ultimately affect tourism, water sports and nature in general, — Konstantin O. tirelessly repeats.

According to specialists from the regional ecology department of Zhetysu, they gave an opinion only on the hydroelectric power station construction project, but they are not authorized to assess the impact of new facilities on nature.

— We consider it necessary to involve independent scientific experts and conduct scientific expertise. For this purpose, additional financial resources must be allocated, — noted the regional environmental department.

Meanwhile, some residents of nearby villages are very skeptical about the public’s attempts to somehow influence the situation and even reverse it. As local residents told us, the reason – is the copper-gold rush that is approaching the most beautiful mountains on the banks of the Koksu River.

According to rumors, gold and copper were found here, and soon mining and processing plants for the production of copper and gold will be built in these places. And hydroelectric power stations are needed to launch production. Project manager Ali Karabalin confirmed that factories will indeed open in these places soon. He did not specify which ones exactly, but added that the local budget will receive billions of dollars in taxes.

Aliya Akhmedieva (Ratel.kz)