-5°C / -2°C WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2014 No 1 (44) www.astanatimes.com Bitumen Plant Commissioned in Aktau, Becomes NTI Report Notes New Link Between China and Kazakhstan Progress in Security of Global Nuclear Materials, Says Major Challenges Remain By Artur Abubakirov “We know that terrorists would only need enough highly enriched ASTANA – The 2014 NTI Nu- uranium to fit into a 5-pound bag clear Materials Security Index, of sugar or an amount of plutonium which assesses nuclear materials the size of a grapefruit.” security conditions in 176 coun- The index, Nunn said, was cre- tries and which was released on ated to respond for this sobering Jan. 8 by the Washington-based set of facts. “I view the Index as Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), a framework—grounded in solid reported progress in global efforts data which should help inform to reduce and secure nuclear mate- our priorities globally in terms of rials while noting main challenges securing nuclear material and pre- that remain in this area such as cre- venting catastrophic terrorism.” ating a unified global system for The second edition of the NTI monitoring all nuclear materials. Index assesses progress states have “World leaders at the third Nu- made in improving nuclear materi- clear Security Summit in the Neth- als security conditions. The analy- erlands in March 2014 can point sis in the report was based on six to measurable progress toward the factors: quantities and sites, secu- goal of reducing and securing the rity and control measures, global materials needed to build a nuclear norms, domestic commitments and bomb,” the report said. capacity, and risk environment. The report, developed together According to the report, seven with the Economist Intelligence countries—Austria, Czech Repub- Unit (EIU), was released at a press lic, Hungary, Mexico, Sweden, The new plant is capable of processing one million tons of oil and producing about 400,000 tons of high-quality oxidised bitumen. conference in the U.S. capital Ukraine and Vietnam—have re- headlined by former U.S. Senator moved all or most of their stocks of and NTI Co-Chairman Sam Nunn By Rufiya Ospanova men and 120,000 tons of modified which built and owns the plant, is former is the subsidiary of KazMu- weapons-usable nuclear materials and NTI President Joan Rohlfing. from their territories. The number bitumen officially opened in Aktau one of 34 sites on the regional In- nayGas national oil and gas com- “We know there is nearly 2,000 AKTAU – A bitumen plant capa- of nations with appreciable fuel for on Dec. 20. President of Kazakhstan dustrialisation Map. Caspi Bitum is pany and the latter is the subsidiary metric tons of this material spread atomic bombs also lowered to 25 ble of processing 1 million tons of Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in 50-50 percent owned by Kazakh- of CITIC (China International Trust across hundreds of sites in 25 coun- from 32 since the first report was oil and producing about 400,000 the opening via teleconference. stan Petrochemical Industries JSC and Investment Corporation) Group. tries, and we know much of it is not issued in January 2012. tons of high-quality oxidised bitu- The Caspi Bitum joint venture, and CITIC Kazakhstan CJSC. The Continued on Page A4 effectively secured,” Nunn said. Continued on Page A3 Kazakh Expat Gains Presidential Astana Dakar Experience, Advocates for Team Chases Adventure in Home Country Abroad South America By Alex Lee road race Dakar Rally – Dakar faced plenty of challenges. On day 2014. two, one of the Kazakh crews lost While most of Kazakhstan is The 13-stage Dakar 2014 race their vehicle. A tire on Bauyrzhan covered with snow and fighting being held Jan. 5 through Jan. 18 Issabayev and Gabdulla Ashimov’s gusty winds, the Presidential Asta- runs through Argentina, Bolivia Toyota ignited at 150 km/hr and na Dakar Team races through dust, and Chile and offers plenty of within moments had engulfed the mud and sand on the other side of adrenaline and adventure. vehicle in flames. Issabayev and the planet in South America as a The Kazakh team is holding Ashimov barely escaped the fire. participant in the prestigious off steady in the race standings, but has Continued on Page B7 Raushan Makhmutova, one of the growing number of Kazakh expatriates, finds a lot of good feelings in Africa. By Jan Furst in Kazakhstan,” she said. “It’s in 2006. She first worked for the my homeland. But I will seri- company in Kazakhstan, then got ASTANA – While more and ously think of that when I get an offer to work in the Democratic more foreigners are moving to Ka- enough experience to be useful Republic of Congo from one of her zakhstan, tales of Kazakh expatri- in my country, and after I have former colleagues. ates abroad are still rare. Astana travelled enough. I am still full “At that time, I was working as native Raushan Makhmutova, of ideas of new places to visit; an interpreter back in Kazakhstan. who has been working abroad I still have too much desire to But in Congo I started my first job since 2006, is one of Kazakhstan’s explore the world. I love getting as a document controller. Later, relatively small number of global to know places I had only seen when the project was over, I started workers and travellers. in books or movies, tasting new working as project coordinator in There are dozens of pins on cuisines and learning new cus- Ghana for a Canadian gold mining Makhmutova’s personal map toms. I love meeting new people company called Kinross. I always of travels, marking places from and learning how our cultures are work [monthly] shifts. I gained a Western Europe to Southeast Asia alike and how they are different,” lot of experience in construction, to South Africa. Though she has Makhmutova said. though I do not have any special worked abroad for years now, she She started working abroad education in it. International com- still plans to bring her experience when she got a job with Bellzone, panies value experience and your back to her home country. a company that develops iron ore will to work and learn.” The Presidential Astana Dakar Team races through dust, mud and sand in South America as a participant in Dakar Rally “I have thought of working and mineral assets in West Africa, Continued on Page B5 – Dakar 2014. INSIDE NATION ECONOMY & BUSINESS EDITORIAL OPINIONS NATION & CAPITAL New Emergency Hospital Opens in Semey, Joins Oil and Gas Production Set to Increase A4 Growing Global Nuclear Power Industry SULEIMEN: Energy Cooperation between Winter Fun: Skating on the Open Ice B1 Other New Medical Facilities in Region A2 Requires Tighter Regulations A6 Kazakhstan and China A7 Businessman Gives $100,000 in Grants to Sixth Winter Charity Masquerade Raises More New Laws on Taxation and Social Benefits Startups A5 KONYROVA: 2013 Brought Advancements to Than 13 Million Tenge B8 Come Into Effect A2 Kazakh Oil and Gas Industry A7 US$ 1 = 154.60 KZT 1 Euro = 211.30 KZT 1 Rouble = 4.67 KZT A2 NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2014 DOMESTIC New Emergency Hospital Opens in Semey, NEWS IN BRIEF The implementation of the Bal- apan state programme will be ex- tended until 2020, pursuant to a Joins Other New Medical Facilities in Region government resolution released By Aigul Bidanova built more than 500 health facili- on Jan. 9. Balapan was adopted in ties. Fifteen years ago we could Kazakhstan in 2010 on the instruc- SEMEY – An emergency hos- only dream about this. The new tion of President Nursultan Naz- pital with the capacity to treat 325 building is equipped with new arbayev. Implementation of the patients officially opened in Semey technologies, CT scans and other programme, which sought to in- at the end of December in a cere- modern medical devices,” Bayz- volve 70 percent of Kazakhstan’s mony attended by East Kazakhstan hunussov said at the ceremony. children in preschool education, Oblast Akim (Governor) Berdybek The vice minister also noted that was expected to be completed in Saparbayev and Vice Minister of the Semey region is one of the most 2014. The extended programme Healthcare Eric Bayzhunussov. promising for healthcare due to its will seek to enroll 100 percent of The new medical facility was developing nuclear medicine and the nation’s children in preschool built through the 100 Schools, 100 oncology services. During the So- by 2020 as well as ensure that 100 Hospitals programme. It was de- viet times, the region hosted the percent of children aged 5-6 have signed to care for 325 patients and Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, and preschool training and expand the its clinic to handle 500 visits per while this created huge problems network of preschool education day. The hospital and clinic cost in terms of higher cancer rates, the institutions in the country. Pro- 10.8 billion tenge (US$69.9 mil- former test site is now used as a gramme financing for 2014-2020 lion) to build and the equipment centre of peaceful nuclear research. will reach 190.5 billion tenge installed cost over 2.8 billion tenge The region built 13 major medi- (US$1.2 billion). Over 41.2 bil- (US$18.1 million). cal facilities and 11 rural health lion tenge (US$266.9 million) is “Despite the global crisis, over stations in 2013 in an effort to planned to be allocated from the the past 10 years, Kazakhstan has provide oncology services and national budget and 149.3 billion (US$966.1 million) from the local budget.