Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug.22 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is seeking the support of a Consultant (the "Consultant") in a project on Kazakhstan's Aktau district heating system upgrade.
The date of submitting bids is up to September 17, 2012.
Within the project, EBRD cooperates with Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan's State Communal Enterprise Caspiy Zhylu, Su Arnasy and the akimat (regional governing body) of Mangystau region.
Maximum budget available for the assignment amounts to 270,000 euros exclusive VAT.
The Assignment is expected to start in December 2012 and has an estimated overall duration of 24 months.
The Project will enable Caspiy Zhylu, Su Arnasy , which provides water, heating and wastewater services to more than 95 per cent of the population of Aktau and its suburbs to improve its district heating services by financing priority investments in rehabilitation and modernization of its networks, resulting in energy efficiency, reduction in losses and improvements in environmental standards. This will stimulate the process of commercialization of district heating operations in general, thus supporting the sector reforms and having a significant demonstration effect.
The consultant should assist Caspiy Zhylu, Su Arnasy to improve its commercial standing, service and environmental and social performance by helping to identify and implement the necessary corporate, financial and operational improvements required to meet the related covenants included in the EBRD finance documents. This will be achieved via the development and implementation of a Financial and Operational Performance Improvement Program.
The Consultant shall also assist the Company to develop a medium-term focused corporate development plan and to improve its corporate planning capacity to assist its ongoing transition towards a self-sustaining entity and commercial operations.
These main tasks of the assignment include supporting the Company to:
1. Maintain satisfactory accounting, cost control and management information systems and books of account in accordance with International Accounting Standards starting from a date to be agreed with the Bank in the Loan Agreement.
2. Provide the Bank with financial and annual environmental and social reports (AESRs) as required under the financing and project agreements.
3. Maintain the financial covenants as documented in the EBRD loan agreement.
4. Amend the existing Public Service Contract ("PSC") to reflect all the operations of the Company.
5. Establish a Customer Billing Centre ("CBC") in the Company and transfer of end-user bill collection from the heat producer MAEK to CBC.
6. Implement the Environmental and Social Action Plan ("ESAP") and a Stakeholder Participation Programme ("SPP").
7. Develop a methodology and standards for annual publication of performance targets on the Company web site.
The potential consultant should submit overview of the company's activity to the EBRD's contact person.
Contacts: The Client Contact Person: Mr. Serik Gusman, Director, State Communal Enterprise Caspiy Zhylu, Su Arnasy, 22 mkr., building of the Company, Aktau, Kazakhstan
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Phone: +7 7292 60 5318 Fax: +7 7292 60 5323
The EBRD Contact Person: Nicola Di Pietro, CSU Advisor, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2JN
Tel: + 44 20 7338 6329, Fax: +44 20 7338 7451
E-mail: [email protected]
Aktau, with a population about 178,000, is the country's only seaport on the Caspian Sea and one of the fastest growing cities in Kazakhstan, being the centre of the country's oil and gas industry. The Mangystau Oblast (population approximately 544,000) contributes about 6 per cent of Kazakhstan's GDP and benefits from its endowment with oil reserves and growing processing industries (textiles, food, rubber and plastics, equipment and chemicals).
The district heating sector is a major segment in Kazakhstan's energy balance. It remains the most cost-effective way of supplying heat to a majority of people in high-density apartment buildings as the main beneficiaries