Almaty’s Historic Canal Renovation Nears 35% Completion Ahead of Schedule

A race against time and history unfolds in Almaty. Can the city’s troubled contractor deliver its iconic canal renovation before the 2026 deadline—or will delays strike again?

, and Administrator

2025 November 30 . 3:41 AM

1 min read

In this image there is a river, on that river there are ships, in the background there is a bridge,... — In this image there is a river, on that river there are ships, in the background there is a bridge, buildings and a construction cares and the sky.

Almaty’s Historic Canal Renovation Nears 35% Completion Ahead of Schedule

The renovation of the Great Almaty Canal, named after Kunaev, is steadily advancing. Approximately 35% of the total work has already been accomplished. City authorities now aspire to finish the project ahead of its initial deadline in October 2026.

The construction is being managed by Pavlodar River Port JSC, a company with a history of delays on past undertakings. Despite this, officials remain optimistic about the expedited timeline.

All planned tasks for 2023 were successfully completed. This included dismantling outdated structures and clearing the canal bed. The next phase necessitates an additional 400 million tenge to fund utility line installations and concrete work before the year concludes.

The city administration has not revealed details about the contracting process. No public records confirm whether the same firm was involved in previous delays, such as those experienced during the Sairan Canal reconstruction. Nevertheless, the current focus is on progressing with the Great Almaty Canal’s renovation.

Pavlodar River Port JSC, despite its past setbacks, continues to oversee the project. The company’s performance will dictate whether the city can meet its revised completion date.

The Great Almaty Canal renovation is now a third complete, with officials aiming for an early finish. Additional funding will be required to maintain momentum in the coming months. If successful, the project could be completed before the contractual deadline of October 2026.