Kazakhstan could invite Chinese partners to build three combined heat and power plants

ASTANA. Feb 16 (Interfax) - Chinese partners could be involved in the construction of the Kokshetau, Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk combined heat and power plants in Kazakhstan, Kazakh Deputy Energy Minister Sungat Yessimkhanov said.

"I think there will be Chinese partners involved, and Samruk-Energy is working on each project separately," Yessimkhanov told a Monday press conference.

He said Samruk-Energy had been tasked with building the three CHP plants, and the Energy Ministry had signed investment agreements with all of Samruk-Energy's subsidiaries involved in the projects.

"Of course, there will be a consortium of companies for each project," the deputy minister said.

He said state-of-the-art Chinese technologies meeting all environmental and technical requirements would be used in the construction of the CHP plants.

Samruk-Energy has been designated as the customer for the projects.

"Preliminary work, including geodetic surveys, is scheduled to begin at all three sites in April. This work started last year in Kokshetau. The completion deadline for the Kokshetau CHP plant is mid-2029, while the Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk plants are due to be completed by the end of 2029," he said.

Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov had earlier instructed Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna to ensure the projects are implemented within the established timeframe.

Contracts for the construction of the power plants were expected to be signed by the end of January 2026, with construction work slated to begin in April.

The installed capacity of the Kokshetau CHP plant will be 240 megawatts, while the Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk plants will each have capacity of 360 MW.

Initially, Kazakhstan planned to implement the projects jointly with Russia and considered attracting a subsidized loan from the Russian government. However, the negotiations stalled, and it was later announced that the project would be carried out by Kazakhstan alone.