Government decided to buy APC from Halyk bank - full version

/INTERFAX-KAZAKHSTAN, Astana, June 27, 05/ - Kazakhstan's government has decided to buy property complex of Almaty Power Consolidated (APC) exhibited to trades by a person empowered to act for Halyk bank. "Taking into account a difficult situation - with technical and technological preparation of APC for heating season the government finally decided to buy APC's property complex, - Daniyal Akhmetov country's prime-minister said on Monday. "Taking into account the fact that trades appointed by the bank on sale of APC's complex failed, summarizing results of negotiations (between the government and Halyk bank. - "IF-K") there have been achieved acceptable for the government and the bank terms on purchasing the complex by KazTransGas, - Akhmetov said. "We are buying this property within the cost announced by the bank", - Akhmetov said having marked that "the government will base itself on the fact that a part of assets exhibited to the trades will be sold at open trades in compliance with the legislation". He said "Almaty people can keep from worrying about energy provision". Meanwhile, Halyk bank is satisfied with the government's decision, Alexandr Pavlov chairman of the bank's board of directors said. "Taking into account the fact that there are all grounds to consider the trades as failed, we are satisfied with the government's decision, which, on one hand lets solve problems on bank credit repayment, and on the other - prepare for winter under the state control, provide normal, non-stop work of the energy complex", - he said. Serik Sultangaliyev general director of KazTransGas said the company had sufficient experience in order to provide work of the complex. "Today KazTransGas is a leading company dealing not only with sale and supply of gas to population and industrial enterprises, but also extracts gas", - he said. Besides, he said, the company has experience of working in energy sector. "We own 50% of shares of Zhambyl HPS", - Sultangaliyev said. Two lots were exhibited to the trades, which were to be held on Monday at 15:00 by the decision of Halyk bank on sale of APC's property and state ventures given before by city administration to this bank as the pawn for securing fulfillment of credit obligations of the mentioned company. The first lot comprised following objects: property complexes of Talgar HPS, Kapchagay HPS, Almaty distributing electricity network company, City's electrical networks, HS-1 (Almaty), HS-2 (Almaty oblast), HS-3 (Illi region), building of Kazakhstan hotel, building of Almaty hotel. The starting price of lot N1 was KZT8 bn. (current 135.50/$1). The second lot comprised property complexes for production and issue of heat energy and heat networks distribution company. The starting price of lot N2 was KZT950 m. The sale of the complex to the private property aroused talks in society. A big group of deputies of majilis turned to the prime-minister asking to interfere with the situation. APC is the supplier of heat- and electrical energy in Almaty and Almaty oblast and serves about 2 m. consumers. [2005-06-24]