In his recent Address to the Nation, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev directed the government to accelerate the development of coal-based energy — but with a critical condition: deployment of advanced, environmentally responsible technologies. With confirmed reserves of 33.6 billion tons of high-quality thermal coal, a full phase-out of coal in the near term is economically unfeasible, the Government’s press service reports.
At a Cabinet meeting, followed the Presidential Address, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov presented a concrete roadmap. He emphasized that amid global decarbonization trends, Kazakhstan is opting for technological modernization, not resource abandonment.
“Construction of new and retrofitting of existing coal-fired power plants will be based on ‘clean coal’ technologies — meeting international environmental standards with minimal ecological impact,” Akkenzhenov stated.
Key pilot projects are already identified:
- New thermal power plants in Kokshetau, Semey, and Ust-Kamenogorsk
- Major upgraded stations in Kurchatov and Ekibastuz
These facilities will serve as testbeds for emission-reduction systems, efficiency-boosting innovations, and digital combustion management. The goal: maintain affordable electricity for households and industry while reducing the carbon footprint and aligning with the Paris Agreement.
In essence, Kazakhstan is forging a new model of coal power — not as a relic of the past, but as a technologically equipped transitional phase on the nation’s path to carbon neutrality.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
Sept. 13, 2025