Kazakhstan has announced a new energy security plan that includes adding coal-fired capacity through 2035 and modernising its coal-fired fleet to help achieve artificial intelligence (AI) goals.
The central Asian country plans to add 26.3GW of generation capacity by 2035, of which 13.3GW is targeted for commissioning by 2029, energy minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said today.
Kazakhstan aims to commission 7.4GW of coal-fired capacity and 5.9GW of renewables to meet its 2029 target. An infrastructure overhaul could meet Kazakhstan's power needs as early as 2027, and create a sustainable surplus going forward, according to the ministry.
New coal-fired capacity by 2029 will allow Kazakhstan to build energy-intensive AI infrastructure and large data centres, the ministry said. This builds on a broader $15.5bn project to boost coal-fired power approved in March.
The ministry of AI and digital development — established in September — will work with the energy ministry and state-owned Kazakhtelecom to develop AI data centres.
The energy ministry confirmed today that 19 projects were expected to be part of the broader plan — eight newbuild coal-fired plants and 11 overhauls.
Kazakhstan has 27.1GW of power capacity — 13.7GW coal-fired, 7.1GW gas-fired, 2.5GW hydro and 3.8GW other renewables.
Total power generation is expected to reach at least 126.5TWh this year, the energy ministry said. Generation totalled 123.1TWh last year, and consumption 124.6TWh.
