Aksu sugar plant will start before the end of the year

Aksu sugar plant in Almaty region will be commissioned on the first of December. Investors assured this. A large Kazakhstan company intends to spend on the reconstruction and modernization of the enterprise almost 15 billion tenge. More than 2 billion will be invested by the state.

In December 2007, the Aksu Sugar Refinery, releasing the last batch of sugar, stopped. With its closure, the 40-thousand population of the area, which has been used to cultivating sugar beet for decades, was forced to look for other sources of income. Many localities are empty. With the arrival of investors, the peasants had an incentive to return to the land again. Farmer Berik Tynyshbaev sowed 15 hectares under beets last year, this year he plans to double crops.

Berik Tynyshbaev, head of the peasant agriculture:

- Last year's crop passed at the Koksu sugar plant. I received only subsidies in the amount of almost 3 million tenge. There is support from the state. Now I learned that this year our sugar plant will be launched, so I intend to increase the area for beets several times next year. Last year, 700 hectares were received per hectare on this farm. The seeds of the sweet root are sown here by the point method. The cultivation process is based on advanced technology. On the basis of the enterprise, a service procurement center has been opened. His technique also helps other peasants.

Serikzhan Beskempirov, deputy akim of Almaty region:

- If we sow for 11 thousand hectares next year, these will be 11 thousand people working in the fields, that is, auxiliary. Plus a plant, plus fertilizer is necessary, seeds are necessary, that is, around this plant 15 thousand will be involved. The plant has already begun its reconstruction. At the first stage of recovery, almost 8 billion tenge will be spent. Some components of the complex will be replaced; advanced equipment will be installed. The plans for this year include processing of 100 thousand tons of sugar beet.

Saken Muratov, investor:

- 100% reconstruction. Modernization at the first stage of the process by 20%. This will be a comprehensive work on launch by the first of December. Thanks to the launch of the Aksu plant in Almaty region, it is planned to collect more than 300 thousand tons of sugar beet.

- Last year's crop passed at the Koksu sugar plant. I received only subsidies in the amount of almost 3 million tenge. There is support from the state. Now I learned that this year our sugar plant will be launched, so I intend to increase the area for beets several times next year. Last year, 700 hectares were received per hectare on this farm. The seeds of the sweet root are sown here by the point method. The cultivation process is based on advanced technology. On the basis of the enterprise, a service procurement center has been opened. His technique also helps other peasants.

Serikzhan Beskempirov, deputy akim of Almaty region:

- If we sow for 11 thousand hectares next year, these will be 11 thousand people working in the fields, that is, auxiliary. Plus a plant, plus fertilizer is necessary, seeds are necessary, that is, around this plant 15 thousand will be involved. The plant has already begun its reconstruction. At the first stage of recovery, almost 8 billion tenge will be spent. Some components of the complex will be replaced; advanced equipment will be installed. The plans for this year include processing of 100 thousand tons of sugar beet.

Saken Muratov, investor: