In the context of the global problems, that are associated with the use of nonrenewable energy sources, there is a local one which is inherent to this region. The main part of the Republic of Karakalpakstan that is more than 60% lives in rural areas. Nazarkhan is situated in the Amudarya district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan which covers Nazarkhan, Zhalpyk Jap, Kyryk Ozek, Kok Darya, Maily kol and Bekbai settlements.
The population is 3511 persons, among them 1760 women. The number of farmsteads is 679 where 692 families live. There are 1897 head of cattle there, 736 head of sheep and goats, and 3924 head of poultry. Averagely, one household has more than two head of cattle, one head of small cattle and 6 head of poultry. The main source of energy is natural gas and electricity. 183 farmsteads have no gas. In the settlements where gas has been installed, the pressure of natural gas is very low and electricity is often switched off. Lack of the natural gas and electricity is acutely felt during the autumn-winter period with the beginning of heating period. Therefore, the locals use the timber of the riparian woodlands as firewood for heating their houses. The consumption of the timber consists of 2 handcarts for one household that is approximately 8 m3. Thus, the whole quantity of handcarts in CBO Nazarkhan is 1228 that makes 4912 m3 of cut timber or more than 200 hectares of riparian woodland per year. This leads to destruction of the natural factories of air cleaning – of the riparian woodlands. Besides, this is the reason for discharge of 3,929 tones of CO2 equivalent into the atmosphere annually (burning of 1 m3 of timber discharges into the atmosphere 797 kg of carbonic acid, burning of 1 kg of the timber emits 2.7 KW of energy. 1m3 is 476 kg which make 1285 KW/h or 0.8 t of CO2).
One of the real solutions of the problem is the implementation of energy-saving technologies in practice and using of alternative energy sources by the local population. It is easier and cheaper to save energy rather than produce it. Such alternative sources of energy like photoelectric panels, wind turbines, solar collectors are still fairly expensive technologies, and are often too expensive for ordinary people in rural areas.
You can find more information about the project in the project document.
You can learn more about the project from the project document.
