Gas project in Almaty: Nearly finished (99%)
In Almaty, the almost complete quest to connect the private sector with natural gas has left a small fraction of households struggling. Predominantly, low-income families, lacking official documents, face financial hurdles connecting to the gas supply. Recognizing this issue, the city authorities are stepping up to help.
According to the Energy Efficiency and Infrastructure Development Department's monitor, there are still over 1,800 residential buildings yet to join the centralized gas supply system. Mostly, these are low-income families.
"The challenge is the lack of ownership documents for the houses and land," noted Uali Bekdosh, a chief specialist from the same department.
For families like the Usmanovs, who had been relying on solid fuel for heating, free gasification was a well-deserved gift. Within the "Good Deed" campaign, the Bostandyk district headquarters helped connect a large family's home to natural gas, free of charge.
"I applied to the city headquarters. They assisted us in connecting the gas. Thank you very much. It's warm and cozy at home," shared Bostandyk district resident Sevara Usmanova.
Bostandyk district boasts over 6,000 private houses, with almost all courtyards connected to gas. This year alone, another 109 houses joined the centralized system, with 158 more on the list.
"In the district, work has been carried out to connect 6 physically vulnerable individuals to natural gas. We continue our efforts in this direction," assured Adilet Alipbekov, head of the communal services department of the Bostandyk district headquarters.
To expedite the process, city authorities have also implemented a new strategy. Now, a leading second-tier bank offers a zero-interest loan of 309,000 tenge for six months for these purposes.
While there are no specific programs yet documented for low-interest gas connection loans for undocumented low-income families in Almaty, a combination of community action, advocacy, microfinance, and leveraging international development support can open pathways to access. Engaging with municipal authorities, local NGOs, and participating in community organizations increases collective bargaining power and possibilities.
In essence, lack of ownership documents can pose significant barriers to accessing loans or services. However, marshaling community efforts, seeking help from local organizations, and advocating for policy changes could pave the way for undocumented low-income families to secure needed services.
- The Energy Efficiency and Infrastructure Development Department's monitor revealed that over 1,800 residential buildings in Almaty, primarily occupied by low-income families, are still not connected to the centralized gas supply system.
- In an effort to help, city authorities have implemented a new strategy where a leading second-tier bank offers a zero-interest loan of 309,000 tenge for six months for connecting households to natural gas.
- Despite the absence of specific programs for low-interest gas connection loans for undocumented low-income families in Almaty, a combination of community action, advocacy, microfinance, and leveraging international development support could potentially open pathways to access such loans, thereby improving the health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and overall quality of life of these families within the science, finance, and energy industries.
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