"One day I realized - what we do in industry today will determine what air our children will breathe," these words from Mikhail Kadymov explain why the leader of the industrial sector's leading companies is so persistent in implementing environmental innovations. The founder and head of Alpha Center and Alpha Energy is known in business circles as an entrepreneur who has led his companies to market leadership. But behind the impressive business metrics lies something more significant – the consistent implementation of technologies that make heavy industry more environmentally friendly.
His path to environmental thinking began in 2014 with the Burnoye Solar-1 project – at the time the largest solar power plant in Central Asia. As the project's financial director, Mikhail secured $85 million from EBRD – the first project financing of this scale for solar energy in Kazakhstan. The results are impressive: the plant has already prevented the emission of more than 435,000 tons of CO₂ and generated over 518 million kWh of clean energy. This experience provided insight: industrial development and environmental care are not just compatible but can reinforce each other. Today, every business decision in his companies is evaluated not only in terms of profit but also by its environmental impact.
In 2015, Alpha Center became the exclusive distributor of PPG Industries in Kazakhstan. This partnership represented more than just business expansion – it was a step toward implementing technologies that fundamentally change the approach to industrial safety and environmental protection.
The partnership with PPG Industries enabled Alpha Center to introduce a comprehensive approach to industrial protection in Kazakhstan. It's not about individual products but about an integrated system where each element works for both safety and environmental sustainability.
"We developed a three-tier system for protecting industrial facilities," explains Mikhail. "The first level is anticorrosion protection, which prevents the destruction of metal structures. The second is passive fire protection, crucial for petrochemical facilities. The third is special coatings for protection against aggressive environments. Together, these solutions not only extend equipment life but create multilayered protection against environmental incidents."
This approach has proven particularly effective at large industrial facilities. For example, at the Kazakhstan Petrochemical Industries project, comprehensive solutions protect both the main equipment and infrastructure facilities. This allows for preventing potential accidents at the stage of their possible occurrence.
From equipment protection, Mikhail Kadymov logically moved to improving its efficiency. In 2017, he established Alpha Energy – a company that became the distributor of Brazilian manufacturer WEG in Kazakhstan. But while the market was already ready for innovations in protective coatings, in energy efficiency, they had to change customers' attitudes toward technology.
"In Kazakhstan's mining sector, the 'cheaper and simpler' approach dominated for a long time," notes Mikhail. "We began showing that modern equipment with a higher initial cost ultimately saves both money and resources. When a client sees that they can reduce energy consumption by 30% and double equipment service life – it changes their perspective on technology investments."
Alpha Energy pays special attention to comprehensive energy efficiency audits of enterprises. The team doesn't just supply equipment; they help clients optimize all production processes. This approach achieves impressive results in reducing energy consumption and, consequently, reducing enterprises' carbon footprint.
Environmental responsibility in Mikhail Kadymov's companies starts with the management system. "We implemented a series of basic 'green' protocols and immediately faced market resistance," he recalls. "Many considered it unnecessary complexity. But gradually, partners began to see how these changes affect business efficiency."
Alpha Center developed a unique evaluation system for suppliers and business partners. When selecting contractors, the company gives strategic priority to those who are ready or planning to transition to environmentally responsible operations. This creates a domino effect – more companies in the supply chain begin to consider the environmental aspects of their activities.
Special attention is paid to client education. The company's technical specialists help customers assess environmental risks and find ways to minimize them. "In the oil and gas sector, for example, we show how properly selected protective coatings can not only extend equipment life but also prevent potential environmental problems," explains Mikhail.
Personal experience in business transformation led Mikhail Kadymov to a more ambitious mission – changing approaches in the industrial sector as a whole. In 2023, he became a board member of the Qazaq Green association, where his practical experience in implementing environmentally friendly solutions proved particularly valuable.
"We realized that changes in a single company are good but not enough," explains Mikhail. "We need to change the very culture of industrial production."
The practical experience of Mikhail's companies shows that implementing environmentally friendly technologies can be economically profitable. Modernizing production lines, using energy-efficient equipment, applying modern protective coatings – all of this not only reduces environmental impact but also improves business efficiency.
"The pandemic clearly showed how industry affects the environment," Mikhail shares his observations. "After a brief halt in production, birds started returning to the region, air quality improved. This made many people think about the need for a more environmentally friendly approach to production."
"There are different paths to environmental responsibility in industry," reflects Mikhail Kadymov. "You can wait until regulatory requirements force you to change. Or you can create new standards yourself, finding solutions that work for both business and the environment."
Mikhail has ambitious plans for the coming years. New technological solutions for the industrial sector are under development, and an educational center for training specialists in modern environmentally friendly technologies is preparing to launch. "We want to do more than just implement innovations; we want to create a new generation of professionals for whom environmental care will be a natural part of their work," Mikhail shares his plans.
In his office, next to sales charts, hangs a map of environmental projects. "Each point on this map represents a place where our technologies are helping make industry cleaner," he says. And judging by how quickly new marks appear on the map, Kazakhstan's industry is indeed learning to be environmentally friendly.
