ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 22. Kazakhstan's KEGOC (Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a financing agreement in the amount of 58.2 billion tenge (about $122.3 million) for the implementation of a project to strengthen the electrical network of the Southern Zone of the unified power system of Kazakhstan, Trend reports.
According to the KEGOC, the project will integrate large-scale electricity generation into the grid, including from renewable sources, strengthen and stabilize electricity transmission in the south of the country, and improve Kazakhstan’s energy security.
Currently, contractors are working on the development of design estimates and subsequent construction and installation work. It is planned to build two 500 kilovolts (kV) overhead transmission lines with a total length of 475 kilometers, as well as reconstruct and renovate three 500 kV substations, Shu, Zhambyl, and Shymkent.
"ADB’s partnership with KEGOC will assist Kazakhstan in achieving its net-zero emissions goals by reaching its energy transition and renewable energy expansion targets. This project will enhance the grid, prepare it for utility-scale renewable energy, reduce power transmission losses, and eliminate economically harmful outages," said ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations Suzanne Gaboury. "ADB will help KEGOC adopt gender-inclusive workplace standards, support women pursuing careers in the energy sector, and provide capacity-building and technical advice on renewable energy grid integration."
In turn, Nabi Aitzhanov, head of KEGOC, noted that the new architecture of the national electrical grid will allow the huge potential of renewable and traditional energy sources in southern Kazakhstan to be included in the energy balance. "The export and transit potential will significantly increase, and the energy security of the entire region will be strengthened. We thank the Asian Development Bank for the opportunity to work together on such important projects," he noted.
Meanwhile, electricity production in Kazakhstan amounted to 112.8 billion kWh in 2023. Electricity imports during this period amounted to 3.4 billion kWh, and exports were 1.4 billion kWh.
At the same time, in 2023, the volume of electricity consumption was at the level of 115 billion kWh (in 2022, 112.9 billion kWh).
The nation now boasts 220 power plants, of which 144 are renewable energy facilities with a combined capacity of 2.8 GW. Generally speaking, the capacity was 20.4 GW overall as of January 1, 2024, and the highest usage for the current autumn-winter season was 16.6 GW.