Kazakhstan advances waste management with 94 projects worth 232.2 billion tengeMinister of Ecology and Natural Resources Erlan Nysanbayev announced that 94 projects, valued at 232.2 billion tenge, have been selected for municipal solid waste processing in Kazakhstan."Instructions were issued to construct waste processing plants in major cities with investor participation. The ministry's project group held meetings with local authorities and industry representatives, focusing on analyzing regional waste management. As a result, 94 projects valued at 232.2 billion tenge have been selected,” Nysanbayev said at a government meeting on Tuesday.These projects aim to convert waste into products like paving stones, manholes, and other consumer goods.Out of the 94 projects, estimates for 45 have been finished. These comprise 37 new plant constructions and 8 existing plant modernizations, with a total capacity of over 1.2 million tons per year. The total investment for these projects is 171.6 billion tenge, including 34.3 billion tenge from private investments.The minister clarified that a preferential financing mechanism for waste management projects has been approved. This includes funding for garbage trucks, sorting lines, and processing facilities.“A new mechanism for financing waste management projects through the Industrial Development Fund, offers a 3% interest rate and loan terms of 3 to 15 years,” the Minister said.Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed the Ministry of Ecology, along with relevant government agencies and companies, to develop additional mechanisms for attracting investors in waste processing. He emphasized exploring tax preferences and tariff setting and taking measures to expedite the consideration of waste management projects and accelerate their implementation.Bektenov highlighted the importance of recycling, noting its profitability globally and the need for effective economic incentives.According to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, in 2023, Kazakhstan generated about 4.1 million tonnes of municipal waste, with only 24% being sorted and processed. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX