Qaraganda: City’s Heating Networks in Critical Condition

Kazakhstan’s heating infrastructure has an average wear rate of 52%. The Qaraganda region is one of the more troubling areas, reports Orda.kz, citing Energyprom.kz.

Currently, heating networks cover 60% of Kazakhstan’s cities and villages, stretching 13,000 kilometers—11,000 under municipal ownership and 2,000 privately owned.

Analysts warn that over half of these networks urgently need repairs.

The aging infrastructure struggles to efficiently transfer heat, leading to frequent breakdowns.

Heating costs continue to rise for citizens while the financial burden on the government remains immense.

Qaraganda’s Most Worn-Out Heating Networks:

• Qaraganda – 71.2%
• Temirtau – 68.5%
• Shakhtinsk – 61.7%
• Topar village– 68.8%

Meanwhile, 23 settlements in the region lack centralized heating altogether.

The region also struggles with deteriorating water and sewage systems. In Novodolinskoye, 90% of water pipes are unusable, while in Aqtau village (in the Qaraganda region), the entire water network is 100% worn out.

Sewage infrastructure is just as inadequate — Qaraganda’s sewer systems are 84% outdated, Shakhtinsk’s are 90.4%, and Aqtau's figure is a staggering 100%.

Rural electricity networks are also in disrepair, with at least 80% of the infrastructure worn out.

With winter in full force, heating remains the most pressing issue. In the Qaraganda region, boiler equipment is, on average, 69.1% worn out, while turbine equipment has deteriorated by 71.5%.

Main Distribution Power Plant Topar LLP – 91.6% of boiler equipment is outdated. Balkhash CHPP – 98.5% of boiler equipment is obsolete.

The problem of infrastructure wear has been critical for decades, yet solutions remain elusive. This issue has been highlighted in previous regional development programs, including the 2021–2025 Qaraganda region development plan, the 2016–2020 Qaraganda region development plan, and even the long-term Qaraganda region development plan territorial development strategy up to 2015.  analysts note.

The Qaraganda agglomeration’s comprehensive development plan aims to repair 35 kilometers of heating networks between 2025 and 2029. Nearly 61.9 billion tenge has been allocated for the project.

On February 26, Olzhas Bektenov updated the Зresident on the current heating season, possibly addressing Qaraganda, where residents have already faced multiple heating shutdowns this winter.

Original Author: Alexandra Mokhireva