THE PROJECT HAS BEEN APPROVED

At the public hearings, a preliminary environmental impact assessment for the project of reconstruction and modernization of the hydroelectric power station Cascade was approved

It should be recalled that” cascade of Almaty HPP “is a branch of JSC” ales ” and was built in the period from 1943 to 1959. The company includes 10 hydro stations located in the Big Almaty gorge along 25 km from the Big Almaty lake, water intake facilities of the Almaty Su holding and one power plant on the Talgar River. According to experts, the reconstruction of the hydroelectric power station cascade, in particular the replacement of the main and auxiliary equipment, is necessary for safe operation and reliable energy supply. The main consumers of electricity at the Cascade HPP are the adjacent districts of the city and the region.
According to Iosif Vilkovisky, chief engineer of KAZHYDRO LLP, who is the main designer of the project, the estimated period of construction of the facility is February 2014 – October 2016. During the modernization period, the impact on the aquatic environment, atmospheric air, soil-vegetation and the animal world is expected. However, the activities being developed exclude many factors that have a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, the analysis of the significance of the impact of an object according to the assessment of specialists is defined as average.
During the discussion, specialists of the city Department of Natural Resources and environmental management asked questions and received detailed answers to them.
Irina TULINOVA