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Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy plans to commission 6.7 GW of new generating capacity by 2029 as part of 68 energy projects aimed at modernizing infrastructure, strengthening energy security, and expanding generation potential. Speaking at a government session, Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov said the national energy system, which operates in parallel with Russia and other Central Asian countries, currently consists of 237 energy sources — 79 from traditional generation and 158 from renewable energy. “The Ministry is consistently taking measures aimed at strengthening energy security, modernizing infrastructure, expanding capacities, and introducing digital solutions,” Akkenzhenov stated. Under Kazakhstan’s Energy Sector Development Plan until 2035, more than 26 GW of new generation capacity is expected to be added through both modernization of existing plants and construction of new facilities. According to the ministry, 770 MW of new capacity was commissioned last year, including 608 MW from traditional and 163 MW from renewable energy sources. 2025: 621 MW to be added, including 166 MW from traditional and nine renewable projects.2027: 1.5 GW to be commissioned, including 13 renewable facilities totaling 573 MW.2028: Over 2 GW expected, including three renewable projects with 245 MW. By 2029, Kazakhstan aims not only to meet domestic electricity demand but also to achieve a surplus, boosting its export potential. Additionally, Akkenzhenov highlighted that the government is also advancing projects based on clean coal technologies with minimal environmental impact. A tender has already been completed for the construction of the Ekibastuz GRES-3 power plant, while another is planned for a thermal power plant in Kurchatov. Jointly with JSC Samruk-Energo, combined heat and power (CHP) plants are being built in Kokshetau, Semey, and Ust-Kamenogorsk, all equipped with advanced flue gas filtration and heavy metal capture systems. The ministry is also conducting auction trades to select investors for combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants in Astana and Shymkent, following the success of previous auctions that attracted investment in eight CCGT projects totaling 2.5 GW. Kazakhstan is developing large-scale energy projects in partnership with strategic investors from China, Europe, and Arab countries, totaling about 3.8 GW in capacity, along with 1.1 GW of energy storage systems. As the country expands its renewable portfolio — projected to reach 8.4 GW — flexible gas generation plants will play a critical balancing role in stabilizing the grid. The ministry is also advancing the “Unified State Management System of the Fuel and Energy Complex” (EnergyTech) platform to digitalize the entire sector by 2027. The system will integrate data from subsoil use, energy production, and coal industries to streamline decision-making across 10 key areas. This year, seven digital services have been launched, including tools for monitoring winter readiness and approving maximum tariffs, which have halved administrative procedures and reduced the burden on applicants by 56%. Kazakhstan also plans to install 4mn smart electricity meters in 27 regions within three years, with an expected economic benefit of KZT 57bn ($107mn) due to reduced electricity losses. Around 30,000 smart heat meters will also be deployed to improve efficiency in heat distribution networks. The Ministry of Energy has established an Acceleration Group for AI implementation in the fuel and energy complex, partnering with the Astana Hub and global technology companies. The initiative aims to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence for predictive maintenance, optimization, and efficiency across Kazakhstan’s energy infrastructure.
