The government of Kazakhstan has approved a 7.5 trillion tenge (about $16 billion) national program to develop coal-fired power generation, including incentives such as preferential mortgages for plant employees, the cabinet said.
Plan aims to expand capacity and meet demand
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed the program, which runs through 2030 and is designed to address capacity shortages and modernize the country’s energy system.
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The plan calls for commissioning and upgrading 7.8 gigawatts of power capacity. Officials say additional electricity is needed to support the growth of the IT sector, expand data centers and advance artificial intelligence projects.
Social incentives for energy workers
The program includes measures to attract and retain workers in the coal power sector. Among them is a preferential mortgage initiative to be implemented in partnership with Otbasy Bank.
New plants and modernization projects
Notably, the program includes the construction of eight new power facilities:
- 2,600 megawatts in Ekibastuz.
- 700 megawatts in Kurchatov.
- 500 megawatts in Zhezkazgan.
It also includes the development of modern combined heat and power plants in Kokshetau, Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk.
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Additionally, 11 existing facilities are set for modernization, including the Aksu State District Power Plant, Ekibastuz State District Power Plant-2 and the Karaganda power hub.
Authorities expect the upgrades to reduce equipment depreciation by 12.6%, improving overall efficiency and reliability of the power system.
