New Power Plant Construction in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has announced plans to construct three new thermal power plants (TPPs) without the involvement of the Russian company 'Inter RAO'. According to information from a recent Kazakh government meeting, the TPP in Kokshetau will be built solely using the country's own resources. Meanwhile, TPPs in Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk will be constructed by a Kazakh-Singaporean consortium involving the company 'Samruk-Energy'. Russia withdrew from the project due to financial incapacity.
The 820 Gcal TPP in Kokshetau is currently in the design phase, with its launch scheduled for the first quarter of 2029 at a projected cost of 300 billion tenge. The General Director of 'Samruk-Energy', Kairat Maxutov, reported that Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contracts for the Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semey plants were signed with the Kazakh-Singaporean consortium on January 30, 2026. The cost of each of these stations is estimated at approximately 400 billion tenge.
Funding and Technology
Kazakhstan did not receive information about the promised preferential financing from the Russian Federation, and there were also problems obtaining loans from Russian banks. Initially, it was planned that Russian banks would provide 15-year loans, but difficulties arose with subsidizing the interest rate for equipment purchases. Due to these circumstances, Kazakhstan decided to change partners for project implementation.
'All three TPPs will utilize artificial intelligence and clean coal technologies,' - Kairat Maxutov.
Preliminary agreements regarding the construction of these TPPs were reached in November 2023 during Vladimir Putin's visit to Kazakhstan, when the cost of the facilities was estimated at $2.7 billion USD, and the Russian holding 'Inter RAO' was to be the general contractor.
This move is part of a broader regional trend of Central Asian nations seeking to diversify their economic and energy partnerships. Thus, Kazakhstan continues to develop its energy infrastructure, focusing on independent project implementation and cooperation with international partners. The rejection of Russian financing and the engagement of new partners indicates the country's desire to reduce dependence on external factors and strengthen its energy security. This could also open new opportunities for investment and technological development in Kazakhstan's energy sector.