Kazakhstan, France advance major renewable energy project “Mirny”

Kazakhstan and France have held high-level talks on the construction of the “Mirny” wind power plant, set to become the largest renewable energy project in Kazakhstan.

The meeting was led by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy, Yerlan Akkenzhenov, and included senior management from French energy giant TotalEnergies, including Mansur Zhakupov, Senior Vice President for the Asia-Pacific region, and Frude Younes, Head of TotalEnergies in Kazakhstan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy.

Discussions focused on the progress of TotalEnergies’ key investment initiatives in Kazakhstan, with particular emphasis on the 1 GW “Mirny” wind power plant in the Zhambyl region. The project is a cornerstone of Kazakhstan–France cooperation on decarbonization, formalised in a Special Agreement between the two governments.

The plant will feature a hybrid design, combining wind generation with a 300 MW / 600 MWh energy storage system, ensuring a stable power supply to the national grid. Construction will also include 280 km of high-voltage transmission lines connecting the facility to the YUKGRES and SHU substations.

Minister Akkenzhenov emphasised the Ministry of Energy’s commitment to supporting foreign partners and ensuring the timely commissioning of the project, reinforcing bilateral investment cooperation.

Once operational, the “Mirny” plant is expected to make a significant contribution to Kazakhstan’s carbon neutrality targets, provide clean energy to the region, and foster the development of advanced technological expertise in the renewable energy sector.

By Vugar Khalilov