Officials of the Mangystau region in Kazakhstan and state-owned oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG) have commenced the construction of a new water desalination plant.

The project intends to meet the region’s rising demand for drinking water.

The seawater desalination plant, which will be built in the Karakiya district’s Tokymak region, is expected to have a daily capacity of 50,000m³.

This construction project is in line with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s recommendations to address the region’s water supply concerns.

Once concluded, the facility will be able to meet the drinking water demands of Zhanaozen's population.

The city currently gets its drinking water from the Kigach River, and communities in both the Atyrau and Mangystau regions rely on it.

Mangistau akim (governor) Nurlan Nogayev said: “The construction of a water desalination plant near Tokmak (in the Kendirli recreation area) will make it possible to supply Zhanaozen and other settlements with water in addition to the water coming from the Astrakhan-Mangistau pipeline. This will have a multiplier effect on the development of tourism, entrepreneurship and agriculture."

More than 240 employees will be employed throughout the construction phase, and when operational, the facility will employ over 100 employees.

The project is slated to be completed by the end of next year, with the facility reaching total design capacity by early 2025.