On 29 August 2018, the Administration of Almaty (Almaty Mayor’s Office) has officially announced the public tender for participation in PPP project for development of design specification, construction, commissioning, financing, operation and technical maintenance of Almaty Light-Rail Transportation System (the “Project”).
Technical description
Almaty LRT will have 37 stations on 22.7-kilometer double European gauge (1435 mm) railway, located in Almaty. It shall be capable to transport from 76 000 to 112 000 passengers per day with an average speed of 22 kilometres per hour. In addition to the construction of LRT, the scope of works under the project will include construction of depot, two electrical substations, pedestrian barriers and other related infrastructure. LRT shall include 36 units of rolling stock.
PPP Structure
The Project will be implemented based on DBFOM (Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Maintain) model throughout the PPP life-cycle contract. The Project will consist of two stages. Design and Build stage will begin in 2019 to 2023, and operation stage will commence in 2023 to 2042.
According to the Project structure announced by the Administration, the public partner shall be responsible for the development and expert evaluation of diversion of underground utilities, evaluation and buy-out of private facilities located at the way of LRT.
The financial model of the Project is based on the concept of availability payments. Availability payments under the Project will include compensation of investment costs, compensation of operation costs and management fee.
Participation in the public tender is allowed to private companies and consortiums. Construction shall start in the third quarter of 2019. The total amount of capital expenditures for the Project is estimated at EUR 170-190 million. Operating expenses are evaluated at approx. EUR 5, 2 million per year.
The final date for submission of tender bids is 29 November 2018.
*****
If you have any questions, comments or require any detailed information about the Project, please contact Yerzhan Yessimkhanov, Partner, at Yyessimkhanov@gratanet.com