Kazakhstan villages celebrate first natural gas connections after decades of coal reliance

Natural gas has reached two villages in Kazakhstan’s Uil District. The arrival of the gas pipeline has brought relief to residents in Akkemer and Kemer. These communities will no longer need to stockpile coal and firewood for heating and cooking. The gasification project in Akkemer connected 71 households and three social facilities to the supply. The work cost 65.5 million tenge. In nearby Kemer, 159 homes and 20 social buildings were linked to the network at a cost of 207.3 million tenge.

Residents in both villages celebrated the launch of the pipeline. Their joy reflects the broader progress across the region. By the end of 2025, 23 projects worth 12.2 billion tenge had been completed, delivering gas to 32 settlements with a total population of 13,000.

This year, eight more villages in Aitkobinsky, Martuk, and Uil districts will join the network. Askar Kazybayev, the district governor, has also announced plans to convert several social facility boilers to gas. The new gas supply eliminates the need for coal and firewood storage in Akkemer and Kemer. More villages will gain access in the coming months. The shift promises improved convenience and efficiency for thousands of households and public buildings.