"I don't have a magic wand": Why the mayor of Semey says many issues remain unresolved.

Journalists noted that the residents of Semey continue to express concerns about sewage issues, the lack of hot water during the summer, poor road conditions, lighting, and snow removal.

"I cannot say that systemic issues are not being addressed. As for hot water, we have not had it for 20 years; I understand that this is a problem, and I have always believed it to be a problem. Nevertheless, the construction of the CHP plant remains on the agenda until our CHP is built, so there will be no hot water during the summer. Let's start with that.

Regarding the development of football, I understand what you are getting at. Am I a big football fan? Well, that's normal. However, the money allocated from the regional budget for maintaining the football team is only 1.9 billion tenge. To be clear, considering that there is a children's football team and so on, do not have illusions that there are some fabulous amounts involved," - replied Akim of the region Aбай Нурлан Уранхаев.

Concerning the improvement of Semey, he added that most of the streets were financed through extrabudgetary funds.

"As for the under-bridge areas, the streets of Mangilik El, the children's railway, and the beautification of the island - I doubt that our residents are saying that this should not be done," - the Akim added.

The regional head also stated that the asphalting of roads in Semey increased from 38% to 50%, but to reach 95%, the city needs substantial funds – about 38 billion tenge.

Akim Nurlan Uranhaev added that he does not possess a magic wand to solve all issues at once.

"If you think that we will take and complete all the yards, all the roads, and provide hot water in just one year – well, I truly do not have a magic wand, believe me. What we are doing and planning to do is part of a comprehensive plan approved by the government, and we are working step by step (…)

"We have a comprehensive plan to resolve all these issues. What has not been done for 25 years cannot be solved quickly, even within 3-5 years, but by 2028, we will fulfill this comprehensive plan," - the regional head added.

A year ago, Serik Zhumanharin announced plans for the construction of a CHP plant in the country during the XIX Forum of Interregional Cooperation of Kazakhstan and Russia.

Later, Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar reported that the construction of CHP plants is planned in the cities of Kokshetau, Semey, and Ust-Kamenogorsk.

In December 2023, it was reported that during Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's official visit to St. Petersburg, agreements were signed for the construction of three CHP plants in Kazakhstan. At that time, it became known that the CHP plants in Semey and Kokshetau would be operational by 2027.

Subsequently, the Minister of Energy Almasadam Satkaliyev mentioned in the cabinet's corridors when the construction of the CHP plants in Kokshetau, Semey, and Ust-Kamenogorsk would begin.

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