News

Launch Conference of the EU project "ENABLE – Civil Society for Sustainable Energy Efficient City"

"Perspectives for sustainable development of large residential areas – planning, energy modernisation and energy efficiency"

9. April 2024

On the 9th of April 2024, the launch conference in hybrid format of the project “ENABLE – Civil Society for Sustainable Energy Efficient City” on the topic “Perspectives for sustainable development of large residential areas – planning, energy modernisation and energy efficiency” at the Almaty State College of Energy and Electronic Technologies took place.

The project’s goals, objectives, activities and action plan for 2024 were presented. About 150 participants shared their experience and knowledge on modernisation and development opportunities with sustainability and energy efficiency in mind in a hybrid format. The event was attended by representatives of different types of property managements, local authorities, public organisations, as well as potential partners from business and civil society. 

Johannes Baur, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, expressed his support and emphasised the importance of energy saving and sustainable development for improving the quality of life: “I truly hope that through the ENABLE project, government authorities and civil society organisations in Kazakhstan will find the information and practices useful. It is clear that without a clean building sector we will not achieve our climate goals. But more than that, it will also contribute to the well-being and health of citizens”. 

The conference was followed by the exhibition “Prospects of large residential areas – Experiences from Germany”. The exhibition was organised by the Competence Centre for Large Residential Areas from Berlin, aimed at stimulating discussions on the future of housing construction and development of large residential areas in Kazakhstan. Ralf Protz, Expert of this association shared German experience of planning and modernisation of residential areas applicable to such large cities as Astana and Almaty and stressed the importance of civil society involvement and participatory approaches in these processes.

The event concluded with an excursion to the College’s Laboratory, during which the participants saw how the institution itself actively implements its own production of solar panels.

Twelve members of the ASSOCIATION UYUSHMASI (Association of Professional Housing Management Organisations) from Uzbekistan, Tashkent, which participated in the previous European Union PROMHOUSE project participated in the ENABLE conference. This indicates the continuation of further development of regional co-operation.

A recording of the сonference is available at:

You can read more about the exhibition and conference materials on the project website:

Join us in this important endeavour for a greener and more sustainable future!

ENABLE Eröffnung

Ralf Protz, Expert of the Association “Competence Center for Large Residential Areas”, Berlin, Germany; Johannes Baur, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan; Bernd Hunger, Head of the Association “Competence Center for Large Residential Areas”, Berlin, Germany; © ALMATY ASSOCIATION

Johannes Baur, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Kazakhstan; Snejana Popova, Project Officer, EU Delegation to Kazakhstan; © ALMATY ASSOCIATION

Ralf Protz, Expert of the Association “Competence Center for Large Residential Areas”, Berlin, Germany, ​© ALMATY ASSOCIATION

Ainura Abilmazhinova, Docent, Laboratory of Alternative Energies Almaty, Kazakhstan, ​© ALMATY ASSOCIATION

For further information, please contact

Larissa Schreckenbach

Project Director
Ukraine | Central Asia
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