Malaysian power plants are testing coal from Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is seeking new markets for its coal exports. This information was revealed in a recently published analytical review by the International Energy Agency (IEA) titled "Coal 2024 – Analysis and Forecast to 2027," as reported by inbusiness.kz.

"Kazakhstan increased its exports to Europe in 2023 following the ban on Russian coal. However, in the first half of 2024, shipments from Kazakhstan through Russian and Latvian ports decreased by 24% due to weak European demand. Kazakhstan is looking for new potential markets. Malaysia began trial imports of thermal coal from Kazakhstan in November 2024, supplying it to Malaysian power plants Kapa Energy Ventures, Jimah Energy Ventures, and Tanjung Bin," the analysis states.

Earlier, media reported on the ambitious and grand plans of "Shubarkol Komir," which is part of the Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), to start supplying valuable and low-ash (ash content up to 10%) Shubarkol coal to Malaysia. Considering logistics costs, this coal type can reach the distant Southeast Asian country for sale at a profit based on its price and production cost.

Interestingly, in Kazakhstan itself, coal-fired power plants and CHPPs in Pavlodar, Stepnogorsk, Ekibastuz, Petropavlovsk, Karaganda, Astana, and Almaty operate on high-ash (ash content up to 41%) Ekibastuz coal, which results in higher emissions and ash that needs to be disposed of.