ALMECO Infrastructure Intelligence · № 04
Industrial Site Readiness
A public example of a Site Readiness Assessment for the hypothetical 120 ha Saryarka Industrial Site: what must be confirmed before purchasing land, commencing design, and committing to a start-up date.
PDF · RU · 8 pages · free download · Russian edition
Scope of this issue
What this demo version shows.
- Demonstration asset
- The hypothetical 120 ha Saryarka Industrial Site. The name, location, and source data are fictional.
- Purpose of the case
- To demonstrate the structure of an engineering assessment, the logic of RAG statuses, the critical path, and the list of supporting documents.
Executive summary
Principal conclusion.
The site has an acceptable configuration and road access, but it is not ready for the immediate launch of an industrial project. The principal blockers in this hypothetical case are a shortfall in confirmed electrical capacity, the absence of a wastewater solution, and incomplete baseline environmental screening.
The apparent availability of a utility or a general letter does not constitute technical readiness. For each utility, the connection point, reserve capacity, quality and reliability parameters, boundaries of responsibility, cost, schedule, and required permits must be confirmed.
Before entering into irreversible commitments for the land or EPC, the client should complete a 100-day confirmation plan. Following this process, the site may be classified as conditionally ready, referred for improvement, or removed from the shortlist.
Diagnostic signals
What requires attention.
The colour indicates the priority for verification, not a final rating of the territory or project.
36 MW electrical shortfall
Of the hypothetical 48 MW load, only 12 MW is supported by documentary evidence; the network reinforcement project and delivery date have not been committed.
No confirmed wastewater scheme
Industrial and domestic wastewater require a balance, quality requirements, and a treatment/discharge solution.
The environmental baseline is incomplete
Before the technology and layout are selected, sensitive receptors, sanitary separation distances, and the full set of source data have not been assessed.
Land and road access support continued assessment
The hypothetical title documents are available, the configuration is suitable for a master plan, and the road requires local reinforcement.
1. RAG readiness matrix
RAG is a management status, not a subjective colour rating. Red indicates a decision blocker, amber indicates a material condition or unconfirmed parameter, and green indicates sufficient evidence for the current stage.
| Workstream | Initial condition | Status | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land and zoning | Title confirmed; detailed compatibility to be clarified | Amber | Town-planning plan for the land plot / architectural planning assignment, encumbrances, and sanitary zones |
| Electricity | 12 MW confirmed against demand of 48 MW | Red | 110 kV scheme, reserve capacity, N-1, technical conditions, cost, and schedule |
| Water | 700 m³/day confirmed against demand of 2,400 | Amber | Source, balance, seasonality, quality, and expansion |
| Wastewater | No centralised solution | Red | Treatment technology, discharge/reuse, and permits |
| Gas | 4.2 km corridor; reserve capacity not confirmed | Amber | Pressure, flow, technical conditions, route, and boundaries |
| Road access | Existing road; 5.5 km requires reinforcement | Amber | Loads, junction, right of way, and programme |
| Railway | Option for an 11 km branch | Neutral | Confirm only if supported by an actual freight model |
| Environment | Baseline screening not completed | Red | Receptors, baseline conditions, waste, emissions, water, and procedures |
2. Why technical conditions are not the entire assessment
Even issued technical conditions may include expensive off-site works, a limited validity period, obligations to design and construct networks, or dependence on a third-party project. ALMECO therefore translates each condition into decision parameters.
- connection point and technical parameters;
- confirmed reserve capacity and reliability category;
- boundary of ownership and responsibility;
- scope of off-site works and permits;
- CAPEX range and reimbursement principle;
- critical path to actual utility supply;
- conditions under which the operator may amend or withdraw the decision.
3. Illustrative critical path
In this training case, the longest path runs through confirmation of the electrical scheme, land and route solutions, design of the off-site substation and line, approvals, procurement of long-lead equipment, and construction. The wastewater issue must be resolved in parallel.
| Package | Range | Key dependency |
|---|---|---|
| Source data and preliminary agreements | 0–3 months | Operator decisions, connection point, and route rights |
| Concept and surveys | 2–6 months | Topography, geology, environment, and baseline loads |
| Design and approvals for off-site networks | 5–12 months | Approved scheme and technical conditions |
| Equipment and construction | 12–24 months | Long-lead items, land, permits, and financing |
| Testing and actual supply | 2–4 months | Readiness of both parties and contracts |
4. Site decision
Based on the hypothetical data, the site's status is ‘continue assessment subject to conditions’. Purchase without protective conditions or a commitment to an early start-up date would be premature. The next control gate is reached after evidence for the three red workstreams has been obtained.
- include conditions precedent in the transaction for capacity, environment, and rights for off-site routes;
- do not lock in the EPC programme before off-site infrastructure has been confirmed;
- compare the cost of bringing the site to readiness with an alternative location;
- separate Phase 1 from full capacity if the process allows phasing.
Practical route
What to do next.
The scope and timing are refined once the decision that the analysis must support has been defined.
- Days 1–20
Close the data register
Land, loads, technical conditions, networks, topography, geology, hydrology, environment, transport, and permits.
- Days 21–45
Joint sessions with operators
Confirm reserve capacity, connection points, off-site works, boundaries, timelines, and responsible persons.
- Days 46–75
Concept and options
Master plan, corridors, balances, phasing, critical path, and cost ranges.
- Days 76–100
Investment decision
Readiness matrix, comparison of alternatives, transaction conditions, and next-stage plan.
Transparency
Sources and limitations.
Links lead to primary official sources. For hypothetical cases, they provide regulatory and methodological context and do not validate fictional values.
- Land Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan
General legal context; the applicable version and local documents must be verified for the real site.
- Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Context for environmental assessment and permitting procedures; the specific scope depends on the proposed activity.
- Law on Architectural, Urban Planning and Construction Activities
General context for the preparation and implementation of a construction project.
- Power sector — KEGOC
National system context; local readiness must be confirmed by the relevant network organisation.
ALMECO Infrastructure & Regional Development Advisory
Commission a study for a real management or investment decision.
Describe the territory, objective, available data and preferred deadline. We will propose the first phase, verification boundaries and deliverable format.