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Aktau is currently undertaking significant infrastructure upgrades focused on deepening its water intake channel and reinforcing its banks. This crucial project aims to enhance the reliability and capacity of the city's water supply system.

Project Scope and Objectives

The ambitious plan includes the construction of a dam extending 1,400 meters into the sea's water area, reaching a depth of over 6 meters. A key challenge in this project is the presence of V-category rock formations and natural ridges within the construction zone, which complicates the excavation and engineering processes.

Current Progress and Operations

According to Stefan Ermolichev, head of the construction department at "Zhol Qurulys," the company responsible for the work, efforts are currently concentrated on clearing sediment and various soil types from the channel. The channel itself measures 870 meters in length and up to 30 meters in width. Concurrently, work is progressing on shaping and strengthening the channel banks to meet technical specifications.

"Last year, on December 12, 2024, 'Zhol Qurulys,' part of the 'Gatin Group,' commenced a large-scale infrastructure project within the MAEK Thermal Power Plant-2 area," Ermolichev explained. "Initially, specialized equipment was deployed, including two tracked excavators and two additional tracked excavators with extended booms up to 18 meters. This allowed for efficient work in the narrow and deep sections of the channel. The first phase involved preparatory work, such as constructing access roads for the removal of excavated soil."

Future Phases and Challenges

The next phase will involve building the dam extending up to 1,400 meters into the sea, with depths exceeding 6 meters. This stage is anticipated to be more complex due to the geological conditions, specifically the rock formations and natural ridges.

Despite these challenging geological conditions, "Zhol Qurulys" has affirmed its possession of the necessary resources, expertise, and technical capabilities to successfully complete the project within the stipulated timeframe.

It is recalled that in 2024, the Aktau city administration signed a contract with the contractor for the deepening of the MAEK LLP water intake channel. At that time, the total length of the works was reported to be approximately 560 meters, with an average width of 20 meters. The channel required deepening to a depth of 3 meters, with an estimated 23,515 cubic meters of soil to be removed under the contract.

In 2025, the Aktau city construction department announced the completion of the first phase of dredging work. The second phase is pending, with its start date yet to be announced.

This is reported by the Infohub.kz information agency.