OREANDA-NEWS. April 21, 2014. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Kyzylordateploelektrocentr, the municipal heat and electricity provider in Kyzylorda, have agreed to support the programme of modernisation of the district heating system in the city. The programme will be supported by the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) administered by EBRD under the district heating sector modernization framework.

The EBRD’s Director for Kazakhstan, Mrs Janet Heckman, and the Akim of Kyzylorda Oblast, Mr Kusherbaev K.E., signed a pre-financing agreement today in Kyzylorda, during the III Investment Forum “Baykonur”. The agreement sets a formal basis between the two parties to consider supporting a project.

Janet Heckman said: “This modernisation programme is essential for the many people of Kyzylorda who will get more reliable heating thanks to individual heating substations in many buildings. We are pleased with our cooperation with the municipal authorities of Kyzylorda and look forward to working together to improve people’s lives”.

Mr Kusherbaev said: “We are very pleased with the high level of cooperation with EBRD. We see this Project as an important lead to improve the City residents’ lives quality as well as a tool to ensure sustainable development of the district heating company in future”.

The EBRD and CTF are considering a total loan of up to 4.3 billion Kazakh tenge (equivalent to USD 23.5 million) to Kyzylordateploelektrocentr, a municipal heat and electricity supply service provider.

The modernisation programme will make heating stations, transmission and distribution networks more energy efficient and as a result cut harmful emissions into the atmosphere. It will also install individual heating substations to increase the efficiency and reliability of the system at the buildings level.