Atyrau Region Governor Bolat Akchulakov held a meeting with representatives of Aqualia, an international company specializing in water management. The talks were attended by the region's deputy governor, the mayor of Atyrau, and a company delegation comprising Jose Miguel Gonzalez, CEO of GGU Group and GWP (Tbilisi Waters) for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Business Development Director Irakli Babukhadia and Production Director Victor Gutierrez, infohub.kz reports.
According to the Atyrau Region administration, Akchulakov presented the delegation with a preliminary concept for developing Atyrau's wastewater system. It envisages the phased development of sewerage infrastructure, taking into account the city's terrain and high groundwater levels.
The parties also discussed the technical condition of existing wastewater treatment facilities. In this connection, a technical audit involving Aqualia experts is being considered.
They separately noted the need for an integrated approach to water resource management — from ensuring drinking water quality and wastewater treatment to reducing losses and reusing treated water for technical needs. This is particularly relevant for Atyrau as an industrial region with high demand for process water.
Aqualia representatives spoke about the company's operations in 19 countries, where it serves almost 45 million people, and about its experience managing water services in Tbilisi and Rustavi. According to their data, four years of work in Georgia reduced energy consumption by 30% and cut water losses.
The parties discussed possible formats of cooperation, including technical assistance, audits and various models for implementing infrastructure projects.
"Water supply and wastewater are a single cycle, and it must be approached systematically. When implementing projects, it is important not only to solve current tasks but also to build in quality and reliability for the future," Akchulakov said.
In November, Aqualia plans to send a team of experts to Atyrau to survey facilities and study the operations of the local water utility. The specialists intend to assess the technical, commercial and financial condition of the water supply and wastewater system. Based on this work, the company expects to prepare specific proposals for further cooperation by the end of the year.