Tokayev sets out ambitious roadmap for Kazakhstan’s energy sector

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has outlined a number of priority tasks for the development of the country’s energy sector in the near future.

According to the presidential administration's website, Tokayev stressed that strengthening Kazakhstan’s energy potential is a key priority. 

“This year, a unique project to reinforce the power grids of the western regions will be completed. The project will integrate the energy networks of the West Kazakhstan, Atyrau and Mangystau regions. These hubs now need to be connected to the unified national energy system,” he said.

Tokayev also noted that several large-scale projects are being implemented across the country.

“In particular, new power units will be built at Ekibastuz GRES-2. In addition, construction of a third GRES will begin. The commissioning of these facilities will help eliminate the electricity shortage nationwide. Another important task facing the government and local authorities is the modernisation of power plants in Almaty in 2026. This will reduce air pollution levels and significantly improve the city’s environmental situation,” he said.

The president added that next year it will be necessary to fully commission combined-cycle power plants in the Kyzylorda and Turkestan regions.

“By 2035, facilities producing a total of more than 26 gigawatts of electricity will be put into operation,” Tokayev said.

He emphasised that the emergence of nuclear power plants on Kazakhstan’s energy map would mark the country’s transition to a fundamentally new level of economic development.

Tokayev also underlined that the world is currently undergoing a period of profound transformation. He pointed to the strategic importance of the decision to begin building a nuclear power plant, noting that in the long term it would radically change the country’s energy landscape and reshape the national economy.

“The construction of the Balkhash nuclear power plant, followed by a second nuclear facility, will undoubtedly strengthen Kazakhstan’s energy potential and, at the same time, contribute to the development of new competencies in such a critical field as nuclear energy. The appearance of nuclear power plants on Kazakhstan’s energy map will signify a transition to a qualitatively new stage of economic development. It is clear that large-scale global transformations will affect the energy sector. The world is entering a period of intense competition for energy resources, and we must meet new demands. The state must train a new generation of energy specialists and continue to build up the sector’s capacity,” the president said.

By Tamilla Hasanova