In the village of Zhana aul-1, located 30 kilometers from Aktobe, about 30 homes have been built, but connecting them to electricity has still not been possible. People are forced to light their homes with generators and store food in wells in their yards or take it to relatives in the city, reports infohub.kz.
Land plots in this suburb began to be allocated back in 2018. Since then, around 30 residential buildings have appeared here, but only a few have been able to move in — electricity has still not been brought to the village. With the onset of cold weather, life without light becomes a serious ordeal: it is difficult not only to cook and light homes but also to heat them.
"During the day we turn on the engine, in the evening we switch to the battery. But it only lasts two hours. In summer, we have to take food to relatives in Aktobe and then take only the essentials from there. We need only two things — a road and electricity," says Samat Imangazin, a resident of Zhana aul-1.
Villagers say local authorities promised to bring electricity in 2026. Equipment arrived in the village, but the work quickly stopped. Citizens worry that they will again have to spend this winter by candlelight and in cold homes.
Besides the lack of electricity, the village has no water and no paved roads. Some residents have dug their own wells in their yards, but they say the water is undrinkable — it is too salty. So they collect water in a neighboring village or bring it from the city.
"Regarding gas and electricity supply for Zhana aul-1: currently, the work is being carried out by the company 'Aikom'. Completion is planned for the next quarter, that is, around October-November — the completion of this facility is planned. When this project is implemented, electricity will be supplied to 2,250 plots," said Bauyrzhan Zhanturin, head of the construction department of the Aktobe akimat.