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How Kazakhstan is modernizing its energy sector: key projects for 2024.

This year, as part of the "Development of Thermal Power Engineering" program, 58.3 billion tenge has been allocated from the national budget for 14 projects.
Ключевые проекты 2024 года по модернизации энергетики Казахстана.

The press service of the government has summarized the year in the development of Kazakhstan's energy sector, according to inbusiness.kz.

Amid growing attention to sustainable development and the global transition to a low-carbon model, Kazakhstan is actively implementing initiatives aimed at ensuring reliable energy supply. With increasing economic activity, electricity consumption is rising, necessitating an expansion of production capacities. In 2024, the government took significant steps towards a balanced development of traditional and renewable energy sources. The country's electric power enterprises ensure a stable supply of heat for the needs of industry and the communal and domestic sectors of the republic. A plan for the development of the sector until 2035 has been approved, which includes the introduction of at least 26 GW of new capacities.

Development of Kazakhstan's National Electric Grid

As of today, the Unified Electric Power System of Kazakhstan is operating normally. As of January 1, 2024, the total available capacity was 20.4 GW, with an operational capacity of 15.4 GW. The maximum consumption level in the current heating season reached 16.6 GW, while the maximum generation was 15.1 GW.

In Kazakhstan, there are 222 electric stations (6 thermal power plants, 41 district heating plants, 14 gas turbine plants, 7 gas power plants, 6 hydropower plants, and 148 renewable energy sources). Among them, 148 renewable energy facilities (51 small hydropower plants, 54 wind power plants, 42 solar power plants, and 1 bioenergy plant) have a total capacity of 2.9 GW.

In 2024, within the framework of the budget program of the Ministry of Energy "Development of Thermal Power Generation," 58.3 billion tenge was allocated from the republican budget for the implementation of 14 projects (6 for heat supply, 8 for electricity supply). One of the projects, a 110/10 kV substation in the "Akzhaik" area of Uralsk, has already been put into operation.

Additionally, the annual limit for return investments was increased from 32 billion tenge to 428 billion tenge. This allowed for the expansion of the pool of projects for modernization, expansion, and reconstruction of the main equipment for existing energy-producing organizations.

Currently, there are 22 investment agreements with a total capacity of 2.8 GW, 13 of which, totaling 1.36 GW, were concluded after the limit increase.

In November 2023, the project "Reinforcement of the Electric Network of the Western Zone of the Unified Electric Power System of Kazakhstan" was successfully implemented, which involved the construction of a 220 kV power transmission line (PTL) stretching 780 km from the West Kazakhstan energy hub to Atyrau and Mangistau. This step is aimed at increasing the capacity and reliability of electricity supply.

As the next step, by the end of 2028, a project will be implemented to unite the electric networks of the Western Zone with the Unified Electric Power System, for which a 500 kV power transmission line 604 km long will be constructed, connecting the Aktobe and Atyrau regions. This will allow for the use of maneuverable gas power sources in the Western Zone to compensate for electricity and capacity imbalances in the Northern and Southern Zones. Project documentation is currently being developed, with construction works scheduled to begin in 2025.

Enhancing the reliability of energy supply for consumers in the southern regions and reducing the risks of emergency disruptions associated with the operating modes of energy systems in Central Asian countries requires strengthening the electric networks of the Southern Zone (Shu – Zhambyl – Shymkent). Currently, KEGOC has begun implementing this project, the first phase of which will be completed by 2027, during which a 500 kV overhead line 475 km long will be built along the route Shu – Zhambyl – Shymkent. Design documentation is currently being developed.

To further strengthen connections between the Northern and Southern regions of the country and increase transit potential, the construction of "North-South" direct current lines with a voltage of +/- 500 kV is planned. The capacity will increase by 2000 MW.

Feasibility studies are underway for the construction of a direct current line connecting the western and southern zones of the country, which will allow for the completion of the entire Unified Electric Power System of Kazakhstan.

The implementation of these projects will ensure stable and reliable electricity supply and contribute to the development of Kazakhstan's energy infrastructure, ensuring long-term energy security.

Thermal Generation

This year, the first 500 MW new generation unit at Ekibastuz GRES-1 has been connected to the grid, and by the end of the year, an additional 65 MW is expected to be put into operation at the Atyrau TPP, as well as 130 MW at the "Topar" GRES in 2025.

Through the reconstruction and expansion of existing electric stations, an additional 5.6 GW will be introduced, of which in 2024 the ministry signed 13 investment agreements with energy-producing organizations totaling 1.4 GW. Among these projects is the construction of unit No. 7 at Aksu GRES with a capacity of 325 MW, the construction of a boiler unit and turbine replacement at Karaganda TPP-3, and the expansion of the gas turbine unit of Karabatan Utility Solution from 310 MW to 620 MW.

In the outgoing year, plans were defined for the construction of new generation facilities with a total capacity of about 9 GW. Currently, these projects are at various stages of implementation.

Within the framework of auction trading for the selection of maneuverable generation, the introduction of 2.5 GW of new capacities is planned.

Currently, construction work is underway on four large gas turbine projects with a total capacity of about 1.8 GW, being implemented in the Turkestan, Kyzylorda regions, Ulytau region, and Almaty, with planned completion dates in 2026.

Additionally, in August 2024, another auction was held in Kazakhstan with a total capacity of 700 MW, resulting in four winners for the right to implement gas turbine units in the Zhambyl, Aktobe, and Atyrau regions. Projects are currently being implemented, with completion dates set for 2028. The expected investment volume until 2029 will exceed 8 trillion tenge.

Under an intergovernmental agreement (MPS), large-scale projects with a capacity of 2 GW involving strategic investors are being developed.

For instance, under the signed intergovernmental agreement with Qatar, the construction of a gas turbine unit (GTU) with a capacity of 1100 MW in the Kyzylorda region is planned, with completion expected in 2029.

Another intergovernmental agreement with Russia aims at the construction of new thermal power plants (TPPs) based on coal generation in the cities of Kokshetau, Semey, and Ust-Kamenogorsk (Kokshetau TPP — 240 MW, Semey — 360 MW, Ust-Kamenogorsk — 360 MW), with planned commissioning dates between 2028 and 2030. These projects will be implemented using "clean" coal technologies and are aimed at replacing the existing coal fleet in northern regions of Kazakhstan, which have a long heating period and lack gas transportation infrastructure.

Adjustment of Maximum Tariffs and Repair of Energy Blocks

As of January 1, 2024, the Ministry of Energy adjusted maximum tariffs for electricity for 24 out of 49 energy-producing organizations based on submitted applications.

According to the repair schedule, the system operator has planned major repairs for 10 energy blocks, 55 boilers, and 45 turbines at electric stations in 2024. Repairs have already been completed for 9 energy blocks, 53 boilers, and 40 turbines. Final stages of repair work are underway for 1 energy block, 2 boilers, and 5 turbines.

Repairs have been carried out on 20.7 km of power transmission lines, 422 substations, and 4,000 transformer substations in the REC networks.

In the heating supply networks, repairs and reconstruction of 542 km planned for the current year have been fully completed.

Thanks to the timely conducted work, the heating period has been organized smoothly without major technological disruptions.

Oil Extraction and Refining

The oil production plan for 2024 is set at 90.3 million tons (100.4% of the 2023 level). As of the end of November this year, oil production totaled 80.5 million tons, which is 1.8 million tons less than planned (97.8% of the target of 82.3 million tons).

From January to November 2024, the volume of