OREANDA-NEWS. August 11, 2010. The introduction of maximum electricity tariffs has allowed the Government of Kazakhstan to begin the full-scale renovation of energy facilities.

In 2009, over 65 billion tenge was invested, not including funds allocated from the republican and local budgets. In 2010, over 85 billion tenge will be invested solely in the renovation of power plants. This will improve the situation of high levels of equipment degradation in the country’s electric power industry.

The interest of international manufacturers of electrical equipment in Kazakhstan is, therefore, understandable. Iteca, which organises Power Kazakhstan - the largest specialised exhibition in Central Asia – and the Kazakhstan Forum of Power Engineers, expects over 100 companies to participate in the exhibition in 2010. The show will also feature Czech, German and Chinese national stands. The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic has added Power Kazakhstan 2010 to the list of exhibitions for which government subsidies are available for Czech companies. The German national stand will be organised by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, and Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA).

Over the past 8 years, the Power Kazakhstan project has firmly established a leading position among the electricity industry events that take place in Central Asia, and become a traditional meeting place for industry figures and power engineers to establish contacts. International and local energy companies; global manufacturers and suppliers of electric power equipment, technologies and services; companies providing services at energy facilities; and engineering and consulting companies take part in the exhibition every year.

The main sectors of the exhibition are: Power Generation and Electrical Equipment; Alternatives Sources of Energy; Nuclear Energy; Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency; Cables and Conductors; and Lighting. Since its launch, Power Kazakhstan has been officially supported and attended by the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC); Almaty Mayor’s Office; Kazakhstan Electricity Association (KEA); Kazakhstan Union of Engineering Companies; and Kazakhstan Union of Power Engineers.

An important business event within Power Kazakhstan is the Kazakhstan Forum of Power Engineers. Every year, over 150 representatives of of regional power grid and generation companies; power supply organisations; system operators; centralised trading operators; major industry research and design institutes; and large industrial enterprises take part in the forum. The forum will include discussion of the state of, and prospects for, the development of electric and thermal power, energy conservation and efficiency, alternative sources of energy, and nuclear energy.