Kanat Bozumbayev: By 2027, Regions Must Fully Eliminate the “Red Zone” in the Housing and Utilities Sector

Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev chaired a meeting of the Project Office dedicated to the implementation of the National Project “Modernization of the Energy and Utilities Sectors” (MEUS).

As of today, the total volume of investments attracted to the housing and utilities sector for 2026 amounts to KZT 1.2 trillion. Of this, KZT 634 billion is allocated through the National Project, while an additional KZT 542 billion is предусмотрено within existing investment programs under the tariff-setting mechanism.

Through the MEUS electronic platform, 206 projects with a total value of KZT 482 billion are currently at the stage of competitive procedures, of which 168 are already under implementation.

Despite the fact that the plan to reduce infrastructure deterioration has been fulfilled by 100%, a number of regions have significantly fallen behind the approved schedule for implementing the National Project in 2026. In the heating sector, these include Mangystau, North Kazakhstan, East Kazakhstan, Zhambyl, Almaty, and Abai regions; in electricity supply — Abai, North Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda, Karaganda, Pavlodar, and West Kazakhstan regions; in water supply — West Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda, Pavlodar regions, as well as the cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent; and in wastewater (sewerage) — West Kazakhstan, Mangystau, Akmola, North Kazakhstan regions, Abai region, and the city of Astana.

At the same time, low activity from regions has been observed in submitting applications for the next year.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that by 2027, local executive bodies must fully eliminate the “red zone” in the housing and utilities sector. By the end of April, all applications for projects — primarily those related to enterprises in the “red zone” — must be fully submitted via the MEUS platform. In case of untimely or poor-quality исполнения, personal accountability measures will be applied to responsible officials.

During the meeting, issues related to project financing were also discussed. Within the framework of the National Project, Baiterek Holding has reviewed more than 1,500 applications, of which 231 projects totaling KZT 520.6 billion have been approved at the second stage. Financing is carried out through direct lending by the Development Bank of Kazakhstan JSC and second-tier banks, as well as through the mechanism of purchasing local government securities with the participation of the Kazakhstan Housing Company JSC.

Currently, design and estimate documentation has been developed for 37 out of the 231 projects, and these projects are ready for implementation.

Digitalization was also discussed as part of the agenda. The need to establish a multi-level system for data collection, transmission, and analysis in the housing and utilities sector was emphasized. This system should integrate all levels — from consumers to utility enterprises — based on a “bottom-up” approach, be integrated with the EnergyTech and WaterTech platforms, and synchronized with the Smart Turmys system. Relevant instructions were given to the Ministries of Energy, Industry and Construction, as well as to KazCenter for Housing and Utilities JSC.

Source: Official information resource of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan