Kazakhstan to independently build three power plants as Russia delays funding

Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov outlined the fate of three combined heat and power plants (CHPs) that Russia had previously planned to build, stating that Kazakhstan will take over their construction.

During a briefing in Astana, the minister said that regarding the CHP in Kokshetau, the government decided over the summer to implement the project independently and officially informed Russia during the prime minister’s working visit, Caliber.Az reports per Kazakh media.

“In the fall, earthworks at the CHP began, and site preparation has been underway for six months. The Ministry of Energy is the project client. We have handed this project over to Samruk-Energo, which will carry out all works for this CHP,” the minister noted.

The situation with the other two CHPs is different. Kazakhstan has yet to receive a response from Russia regarding preferential financing.

Akkenzhenov emphasised that the issue of an intergovernmental loan is regularly raised by Kazakhstan at “convenient moments,” but no concrete decision has been made.

“In the future, if the situation continues in the same manner, Kazakhstan will have to implement these projects independently,” he added.

Previously, Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar indicated that Kazakhstan could replace the investor for the three CHPs—in Kokshetau, Semey, and Ust-Kamenogorsk—due to Russia’s financing difficulties.

By Jeyhun Aghazada