ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 14. The Kazakh government reported the results of the heating season, highlighting major repairs on 10 power units, 55 boilers, and 45 turbines nationwide, Trend reports.
"The measures taken made it possible to reduce the number of technical disruptions at power plants by 27 percent – from 1,070 to 782 incidents, and violations of the temperature schedule by 67 percent – from 215 to 65," the Kazakh government stated.
According to the statement, performance indicators changed at 12 combined heat and power plants (CHPPs). Nine moved from the "red" risk zone to "yellow," and three from "yellow" to "green."
"In 2024, 771 MW of new capacity was introduced, including the restored unit of Ekibastuz State district electric power plant - 1 (500 MW), a new turbine at the Atyrau CHPP (65 MW), and a modernized boiler in Zhezkazgan (+43 MW). In addition, 163.35 MW of renewable energy projects were launched," the government reported.
Moreover, the Ministry of Energy adjusted electricity price caps, raised the ceiling price on the electricity capacity market, and increased the annual limit for returnable investments.
Measures taken in 2024 allowed for a 44 percent increase in funding for repair work compared to 2023, reaching 327 billion tenge (approximately $635 million).
"Simultaneously, preparations for the next heating season have begun. This includes the planned repair of 10 power units, 63 boilers, and 39 turbines at power plants – some of the work is already underway. At 66 boiler houses in centralized heating zones, repairs and reconstruction of 53 boilers are planned," the statement said.
After the end of the cold season, work will begin to upgrade 17,000 kilometers of power grids and 323 kilometers of heating pipelines. As part of the National Energy Modernization Project, 77,500 kilometers of electrical networks and 1,600 kilometers of heating networks will be renovated, with a total budget of 4 trillion tenge ($7.8 billion).
Kazakhstan plans to complete 29 projects by 2029, which will reduce the average wear and tear of power plants to 40 percent.