Bakeries prepare for gas cutting-off

By Murat Sultangaliev

In order to avoid bread deficit during gas cutting-off, the local Mayor’s office thought of the way out of the situation.

The matter is that from Sept 16 till Sept 19 “KazTransGasAimak” gas supply company will cut off the gas supply to the left bank of the city and from Sept 20 till Sept 24 – to the right bank. The shutdown of gas supply is due to annual maintenance works.

In order to avoid bread deficit during gas cutting-off, the local Mayor’s office thought of the way out of the situation.

To recall, in Atyrau there are 8 bakeries in a left bank area and 9 - on the right bank.. All of them operate on natural gas, and, therefore, should suspend their operations during the specified period of maintenace.

Mayor’s office invited the owners of bakeries to their office and asked them to supply bread to points of sale located in the opposite bank, where the bakeries stand idle. But bakers disagreed with it.

They promised the authorities that they will bake a 2-day stock of bread before gas shutdown. Then, in the remaining period, they will buy bread in bakeries located in opposite bank of the city and deliver bread to their points of sales. To that the Mayor’s office set a condition - state-funded organizations, schools, hospitals and kindergartens should be supplied with bread first of all.

It became clear that in Atyrau only “Bailyk” bakery has the equipment that could be switched from natural gas to liquefied gas. Uninterrupted operation of the bakery during shutdowns requires 40 cylinders of gas.

The company that supplies gas in cylinders said to Mayor that they don’t have enough “cylinder” gas in the city. Therefore, “Bailyk” will also switch-off their bakery stoves, as every other bakery in town.