Kazakh Prime Minister Reviews Power Sector Development, Demands Timely Completion of Energy Projects

Astana, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov on Wednesday chaired a meeting on the development of the country’s electric power sector, according to primeminister.kz.

The meeting was attended by First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, Chairman of the Management Board of Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund JSC Nurlan Zhakupov, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Government Office Galymzhan Koishybayev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin, Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov, as well as the heads of national energy companies Samruk-Energo and KEGOC, Kairat Maksutov and Nabi Aitzhanov.

Participants reviewed the pace of work by the Ministry of Energy, Samruk-Energo, KEGOC, and power-generating organizations on the modernization of existing infrastructure and the creation of new generating capacities. The discussion focused on fulfilling the tasks set by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his Address to the People of Kazakhstan, “Kazakhstan in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Current Challenges and Their Solutions through Digital Transformation.”

The Ministry of Energy reported that it has entered the practical phase of implementing a large-scale investment plan. Currently, 81 projects with a total capacity of 15.3 gigawatts (GW) are under implementation, with total investments exceeding 13 trillion tenge. A significant share of these projects is being carried out through direct private investment attracted via the electric capacity market mechanism.

Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov noted that over the next three years, commissioning will mainly focus on flexible and maneuverable generation facilities aimed at addressing the deficit of regulating capacity and enhancing the flexibility of the Unified Energy System.

“The commissioning of the facilities currently under development will make it possible by the end of the first quarter of 2027 to fully cover the economy’s demand for electricity and remove Kazakhstan from the status of an energy-deficient country,” Akkenzhenov said. “By 2029, we expect to achieve a sustainable surplus of both electricity and regulating capacity, which will create conditions for increasing the country’s export potential.”
He added that by 2035, the commissioning of more than 26 GW of additional generating capacity is planned nationwide.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Bektenov criticized the practice of postponing deadlines in the implementation of energy projects, stressing the need for greater discipline and responsibility.

“The President has repeatedly pointed out the lack of proper momentum in the energy sector. Everyone must be fully mobilized. All planned projects must be implemented within the established timeframes. There must be no disruptions or delays,” the Prime Minister said. “Minister, heads of Samruk-Energo and KEGOC, you bear personal responsibility for each facility. Your place of work is not in offices, but at construction sites.”

According to the Ministry of Energy, electricity generation in 2025 reached 123.1 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), while consumption totaled 124.6 billion kWh. Total installed capacity increased from 25.3 GW to 26.7 GW over the year. Coal-fired power plants remain the backbone of generation, accounting for 51.4 percent, while the shares of gas generation (25.6 percent) and renewable energy sources (13.5 percent) continue to grow.

Over the past two years, market liberalization has attracted 902 billion tenge in investments for capital repairs, reducing technological incidents by 27 percent and moving nine combined heat and power plants out of the “red” risk zone. No dividends were paid during this period, as all funds were reinvested in reconstruction and modernization, expanding asset renewal projects and ensuring a steady inflow of capital into the generation sector.

The meeting also reviewed prospects for the development of coal generation using clean coal technologies, in line with presidential instructions. Contractors have already been identified, and implementation has begun on strategically important facilities, including Ekibastuz GRES-3 (2,640 MW), a new power plant in Kurchatov (700 MW), and combined heat and power plants in Kokshetau (240 MW), Semey (360 MW), and Ust-Kamenogorsk (360 MW).

On grid infrastructure development, KEGOC reported progress on strengthening the Southern Zone network through the construction of the 500 kV overhead transmission line “Shu–Zhambyl–Shymkent,” spanning 475 kilometers. In addition, a project to integrate the power system of Western Kazakhstan with the Unified Energy System is underway, including the construction of the 500 kV “Olke–Karabatan” line with a length of 604.3 kilometers. Both projects are proceeding according to schedule, with completion planned for 2027.

Looking ahead to 2035, KEGOC plans to commission 6,659 kilometers of new 220–500 kV transmission lines and reconstruct 10,591 kilometers of existing lines. Currently, the national electric grid comprises 83 substations and 398 overhead lines totaling 27,900 kilometers, with a total transformer capacity of 38,893.6 MVA.

Samruk-Energo’s project portfolio предусматривает commissioning of 7.4 GW of new capacity by 2035. Key projects include the modernization of Almaty CHP-2, scheduled for commissioning in October 2026, and the expansion and reconstruction of Ekibastuz GRES-2, with Unit 3 expected in October 2028 and Unit 4 in October 2030.