Almaty to phase out diesel buses by 2027

Almaty authorities plan to completely phase out diesel buses by 2026-2027 as part of ongoing efforts to modernize the city’s public transportation system. The city has been replacing its diesel bus fleet with more environmentally friendly alternatives for several years. However, progress has been hindered by a lack of gas fueling stations in the suburbs, as discussed at a recent meeting of Almaty’s maslikhat (city council).

The need to transition away from diesel buses in Almaty has been debated for years, but deadlines have been repeatedly postponed. According to Sagyndyk Telibayev, head of the Almaty Urban Mobility Department, the primary challenge is the limited number of natural gas fueling stations. While Almaty has seven such stations, there are none outside the city. The city administration is currently working with regional authorities to address this issue.

Azamat Amrin, deputy mayor of Almaty, noted that the city has been upgrading its public transportation fleet with gas-powered vehicles for the past three years.

«We are working to attract private investment in natural gas fueling stations throughout the metropolitan area. Once sufficient stations are operational, eco-friendly buses will begin serving suburban routes,» Amrin stated.

By 2026-2027, Almaty’s subsidy rules for public transportation will include a ban on diesel buses.

The city council previously discussed deploying larger buses on suburban routes to reduce congestion. However, due to infrastructure limitations, expansion is proceeding gradually.

In January 2025, Almaty purchased 14 Golden Dragon electric buses and plans to acquire 60 more. The city has also begun constructing infrastructure for a new bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor, with the first segment running along Raiymbek Avenue between Pushkin Street and Seifullin Avenue.