The early forest fire detection system being implemented in the state forest nature reserve «Semey Ormany» did not confirm its claimed performance characteristics during testing. Following the identified shortcomings, legal proceedings began between the reserve and Kazakhtelecom JSC, and most of the funds under the contract were returned to the republican budget.
WHAT THE AUDITORS FOUND
According to BES.media, the conclusions are contained in the report on the execution of the republican budget for 2025. During testing, the system detected fires untimely and inaccurately, especially at night. Furthermore, the equipment could not accurately determine the coordinates of fire sources.
It is noted that a legal dispute arose between the state forest nature reserve «Semey Ormany» and Kazakhtelecom JSC.
HOW THE PROJECT WAS FINANCED
In 2025, 937.2 million tenge was allocated as an advance payment for the implementation of the system under a contract with a total value of 3.1 billion tenge.
After the problems were identified, further financing of the project was not continued. The remaining approximately 2.2 billion tenge under the contract was returned to the republican budget on 26 December 2025. At the same time, the advance payment of 937.2 million tenge is reflected in the budget reporting as fully utilised.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH OTHER PROCUREMENTS
The system for «Semey Ormany» was the only actual procurement under the strengthening of the material and technical base of environmental institutions planned for 2025.
The comprehensive plan of priority measures in the field of civil protection for 2023–2027 provided for the acquisition of 284 units of equipment worth 8.7 billion tenge. However, other environmental institutions did not receive equipment and machinery. Auditors link this to insufficient funding from the republican budget. By comparison, in 2024, 1,061 units of equipment and other supplies were purchased worth 4.5 billion tenge.
WHAT CONCLUSIONS THE AUDITORS DREW
Based on the analysis of data for 2023–2025, the Accounts Committee concluded that the current system of forest fire prevention and suppression in Kazakhstan does not ensure the stable prevention of major fires.
Among the main problems identified are weak prevention, insufficiently effective early fire detection, and inadequate material and technical equipment of the forestry sector.
CONTEXT
On 16 July, a forest fire broke out on the territory of «Semey Ormany» in the Borodulikha district of the Abay region. Forces from the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), forestry, police, and aviation from several departments were involved in extinguishing it, and 190 children and 20 staff were evacuated from the nearby children's camp «DosbolLike».
On 18 July, the fire was contained. Work is currently ongoing to fully extinguish individual smouldering hotspots and water the area.
Earlier, the editorial team of the Fund for Combating Corruption identified a discrepancy in the assessment of the fire area. It turned out to be significantly larger than the preliminary estimate. According to data from the NASA FIRMS fire monitoring system, the fire covered approximately 1,676 hectares, whereas previously 370 hectares had been reported.
