OREANDA-NEWS. June 23, 2014. The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the World Bank signed a USD 21.7 million Grant Agreement for the Kazakhstan Energy Efficiency Project.

The Agreement provides for the implementation of the four-year project to assist the Republic of Kazakhstan in creating a favorable policy environment to help build the country’s capacity to reach its energy efficiency potential.

On behalf of the Republic of Kazakhstan the agreement was signed by Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Industry and New Technologies, Asset Issekeshev, on behalf of the World Bank – by Sebnem Akkaya, Country Manager for Kazakhstan.

During the signing, Asset Issekeshev, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Industry and New Technologies stated that the project will help modernize socially significant public facilities in all the regions of the country – some 75 public facilities, including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and street lighting facilities in 16 oblasts and cities of Astana and Almaty.

The Project will also focus on improving the institutional framework supporting the creation of sustainable energy financing mechanisms, as well as public campaign to promote energy efficiency.

World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan, Sebnem Akkaya, noted the efforts of the Government in creating enabling environment for the development of energy efficiency and ensured the support of the World Bank in project implementation through the capacity development and application of the best international practice.

The Ministry of Industry and New Technologies will be responsible for the overall coordination of the project implementation.