Kazakhstan should not rely on electricity imports from other countries and must fully meet its energy needs using its own natural resources and production capacity, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said, according to Kazinform.
Speaking at a ceremonial event at the Akorda presidential residence in Astana, Tokayev described energy independence as a matter of national security.
“It is necessary to effectively utilize the country’s vast energy potential. Kazakhstan has significant coal reserves, with annual production exceeding 110 million tons. It is critically important to use this strategic advantage efficiently. We must accelerate the transition to modern ‘clean coal’ technologies that can significantly improve the efficiency of coal-fired power plants,” he said.
The president emphasized that this requires speeding up the adoption of advanced clean coal technologies, as well as constructing a thermal power plant in Kurchatov and combined heat and power plants in Kokshetau, Semey, and Ust-Kamenogorsk.
Tokayev also expressed dissatisfaction with delays in implementing these projects, calling such postponements unacceptable.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
December 19, 2025