Last week, Orda.kz published an investigation into the construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Koksu River, which is being carried out right now in the Zhetysu region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Our questions were raised by the involvement of large mining corporations in the construction of power plants. And activists and athletes who met with representatives of the company building the hydroelectric power station on January 27 had questions about the nature of the Koksu Gorge, which will be affected by the construction of the station. They discussed the same topic with the akim of the Kerbulak region, Kanat Esbolatov. An Orda.kz correspondent tells what the official thinks about the construction of the hydroelectric power station:

Unlike the meeting on January 27, Orda.kz journalists were unable to attend yesterday’s meeting in the village of Koksu. But through the efforts of activists from Taldykorgan, an online broadcast was organized from a local school.

On the part of opponents of the construction of a hydroelectric power station in the Koksu gorge, the main person was again the President of the Rafting Federation of Kazakhstan, Konstantin O. Akim, was voiced by the same facts that were at the meeting at the end of January. Fact one: the river section adjacent to the power plant is suitable for both professional rafting competitions and amateur rafting. According to O, if it floods, even the creation of artificial rapids down the river will not solve the situation —this option was voiced by the head of the Rudnichnye HPP project, Aliy Karabalin.

«It’s as if in Almaty on Shymbulak they found copper on the main slopes and said: «We will mine here, and we will move you to another hill». Someone will really agree to ride in another place, but how many will there be?» — asks Konstantin O.

Plus, according to his estimates, the creation of such a «rowing channel» will cost at least a million dollars.

Second fact: the Koksu gorge has unique nature, which not only residents of the Zhetysu region, but also Almaty and the Almaty region come to see.

Kanat Esbolatov responded on this matter: for him, first of all, the investments that the builders of the hydroelectric power station will bring with them are important.

«I must support investors with my hands and feet», — the akim quite clearly outlined his position.

For example, in a conversation he emphasized several times that the hydroelectric power station will pay a billion tenge in taxes annually. This billion, according to the akim, will help in the development of the Kerbulak region in general and the villages and towns neighboring the hydroelectric power station in particular. Tourism, according to the official, will not bring them a billion tenge in taxes.

«They are primarily investors. Even the president says: «Attract investors»», — Esbolatov said, referring to EnergoBuildService LLP, which is building the power plant.

He was, however, reminded that the president calls for the development of tourism. And the construction of a hydroelectric power station, according to Konstantin O and other activists, will harm tourism in this place.

«Now people come here to admire the untouched authentic nature. How can you attract tourists with a piece of concrete?» — says the athlete.

According to Kanat Esbolatov, he also thought about tourism — in plans to improve the area adjacent to the hydroelectric power station, install toilets there and place a cafe. Plus, according to him, they are going to create a ski base in Koksu; however, its equipment is now stuck at customs in Azerbaijan.

And in general: «We are doing it for the population!» — said the akim.

And then he added:

«This is for the people! And you: rafting, rafting!»

From the broadcast it could be understood that at least two residents of Koksu really support the construction of the hydroelectric power station, and they called the rafters those who come for a week.

The rafters themselves again voiced fears that the conditions for rafting would spoil not only upstream, but also below the hydroelectric power station. According to Konstantin O, they already have such sad experience at other power plants with which there was an agreement to discharge the volume of water that is necessary for the competition. But in the end they received much less.

Aliy Karabalin responded to this that they could conclude an agreement under which they would discharge as much water as necessary from the hydroelectric power station, but only if they were notified in advance. True, Karabalin vaguely explained with whom exactly the agreement should be concluded:

«We are building now, but we are a subsidiary, we have a parent company».

The name Kazminerals, which owns EnergoBuildService LLP, was not mentioned even once during the conversation. By the way, it ended with a proposal to the rafters to call their specialists and return to the shores of Koksu again. So, apparently, this story is not over yet.

Igor Ulitin (Orda.kz)