OREANDA-NEWS. On 22 August 2013 KEGOC held public hearings in Taraz on the preliminary environmental impact assessment of the Cross-border 500 kV Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan Electricity Transmission Project.

The Project is aimed at improving the reliability of parallel operation of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan powers systems. Also it will help to increase the electricity supply security for three oblasts of Zone South of Kazakhstan, create additional export, import and transit opportunities for Kazakhstan power system.

The representatives of mass media, departments of akimat for Zhambyl oblast, akimat for Taraz, executive bodies of Moiynkum, Merken, Baizak, Zhambyl, Zhualyn rayons and the rayon named after Turar Ryskulov, nongovernmental organisations and other interested public members participated in the hearings. KEGOC's experts presented the project and satisfied questions of the public members.

The route of 500 kV transmission line with 400 km total length will cross Almaty and Zhambyl oblasts. According to Pre-EIA the transmission line is out of specially protected natural areas. Environmental protection actions to be taken during the lines construction, rehabilitation and extension of substations, mitigate the impact on the environment.

The cost of the project is KZT 32 billion, implementation period - 2013-2018. The financing is expected to be provided from the borrowings and own funds of KEGOC.

The hearings on the project are held in accordance with the requirements of environmental legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the basis of the preliminary environmental impact assessment (Pre-EIA).