Kazakhstan, Asian Development Bank sign memorandum to cut greenhouse emissions by shutting some coal power plants

ALMATY. Nov 13 (Interfax) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding at COP29 in Baku on possible early de-commissioning of several coal-fired power plants in Kazakhstan under the bank's Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM), ADB said in a press release.

"The two sides will work toward a pilot transaction that demonstrates a pathway to significantly reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions. This could be through decommissioning or repurposing a pilot coal plant for renewables or other low-carbon energy technologies," the press release says.

A feasibility study will determine which among a selection of coal-fired power generation, combined heat and power plants, and heat-only boilers identified in the pre-feasibility study and other analysis could be the most viable for early de-commissioning, according to the press release.

Kazakhstan is a large consumer of coal, the reserves of which are estimated at around 25 billion tonnes or the eighth largest in the world, according to ADB. About 70% of all electricity produced in Kazakhstan is generated by coal-fired plants; the greenhouse gas emissions from the coal-fired plant account for over 80% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the country.