Kazakh Senate passes law on “Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency”

The law provides the legal framework for energy saving (ES) and energy efficiency (EE) activities as well as their financing from the public budgets at all levels.

The document stipulates the norms for establishing the level of competency of state authorities handling the modernization of production, storage, transportation and consumption of energy. The law also regulates the standards for control and supervision of the efficient use of energy resources, as well as foresees penalties for non-compliance with legal provisions in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency.

In addition, the document envisages the creation of the state energy register. According to Vice Minister of Industry and Trade of Kazakhstan, Albert Rau, enterprises listed in the register and consuming over 1.5 thousand tons of fuel per year, will be subject to an energy audit. This will allow for more efficient planning of energy saving and consumption reduction activities in the future.

Kazakhstan Tax Code will also see some amendments related to the new law, which will allow Maslikhats to reduce tax rates on environmental emissions in the amount of funds enterprises invest in energy efficiency activities.