World bank to finance energy efficiency projects in Kazakhstan

The World Bank and the Government of Kazakhstan signed a grant agreement for the development of energy conservation in the country costing 22 million dollars. The Parties agree that this funding will be directed on modernization of schools, hospitals and kindergartens, as well as street lighting facilities. As the Minister of Industry and New Technologies Asset Issekeshev noted, today a lot of attention is paid to energy efficiency in industry, energy, housing, transport and the public sector. The country established a state energy register. About 4 thousand enterprises will pass a planned energy audit in the near future. He added that the companies, which will be revealed to have exceeded energy consumption, will be required to develop plans to modernize and improve energy efficiency.