Industrial Assessment Centers: Kazakhstan Case Study

Yegor A. Zbrodko, Oleksandr Novoseltsev, Alexei G. Sankovski

2017

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DOI 10.1080/01998595.2017.11863762
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

The government of Kazakhstan has set a new trajectory towards sustainable development, which includes 2020 targets to reduce energy intensity of GDP (gross domestic product) by at least 25%. To help reach these ambitious goals, Kazakhstan has adopted the Law on Energy Savings (2012) and the “Energy Saving 2020” program (2013) [1 National Program “Energy Saving -2020.” Kazakhstan. http://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/P1300000904 [Google Scholar]].Under these policies, businesses that consume more than 1500 ton of coal equivalent (tce) per year and all municipal buildings are required to conduct energy audits and implement identified energy-saving measures. Achieving these national goals and helping regulated companies comply with the law requires the services of experienced energy professionals.Thus, in 2014, the USAID Kazakhstan Climate Change Mitigation Program (KCCMP) helped launch the AEE Kazakhstan Chapter, and establish four Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs) based at leading Kazakhstani technical universities.Although the local model differs slightly from that of US-based IACs, the Centers provide on-the-job training to help create the next generation of energy professionals and assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in complying with the laws. A typical Kazakhstani energy audit group consists of an international energy auditing expert, nationally certified auditors, as well as engineering faculty members and students. These four types of individuals learn from each other while identifying opportunities for enterprises to decrease their energy intensity.Since their establishment (in October 2014), the IAC teams have performed 14 express energy audits and trained 91 local energy practitioners. The average annual energy consumption of 14 audited businesses is 67,772 tce (excluding a large combined heat and power [CHP] plant), or about $12.2 million in annual energy expenditures. To date, the IAC teams have identified energy savings of as much as $2.8 million annually (10,421 tce).Thus, IACs are helping to implement Kazakhstan's national energy strategy by training qualified professionals and by helping businesses to both be more competitive and to comply with national regulations.