Kazakhstan, Astana, 22 April / Trend, D. Mukhtarov /
Construction of the Tobol-Kokshetau-Astana gas pipeline will be financed at the expense of the state budget, the Minister of Oil and Gas of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayat Mynbayev said on Monday, speaking in the Majilis (lower chamber of the parliament) during a government hour.
Tobol-Kokshetau-Astana is a difficult project, from the viewpoint of recovery. Therefore, it was considered that construction will occur through targeted transfers or budget," Mynbaev said.
According to him, it was decided that the National Welfare Fund "Samruk-Kazyna" and NC "KazMunaiGas JSC will start financing the construction of the pipeline in 2013.
"However, funds will be allocated from the 2014-2015 state budget for future project costs to return the funds of Samryk-Kazyna and KazMunaiGas, the Minister said.
As previously reported, earlier this year, Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov said to begin construction of the Tobol-Kokshetau-Astana gas pipeline in March-April this year.
"In his message and at a recent meeting, the President clearly said to begin the implementation of the project later this year. Therefore, it is necessary to start in March or April at the latest. All organizational and financial issues must be resolved by the end of the first quarter, and start the construction of an important for our country pipeline in April," Akhmetov said earlier during an expanded board meeting of the Ministry of Oil and Gas.
Preparatory and organizational works are currently underway. In addition, it is planned to start construction of the relevant gas distribution stations for Astana and Kokshetau.
The design capacity of the main gas pipeline is about six billion cubic meters per year and covers all categories of users along its route.