What is the energy transition in Kazakhstan?

To date, the energy transition in Kazakhstan has almost exclusively focused on electricity generation, consisting mainly of the deployment of new solar and wind facilities. By contrast, there is almost no heat production from renewable energy sources, aside from traditional biomass such as fire-wood. The biogas sector remains very underdeveloped.

What are Kazakhstan's Energy goals?

In 2013, Kazakhstan introduced renewa-ble energy targets: by 2020, 3% of electricity was to be generated from solar, wind, small hydro-power, and biogas – a target that was met on time. By 2030, the goal is to reach 15%. There is also an interim target of 6% by 2025, which Kazakhstan is on track to achieve.

Why is grid integration a problem in the Kazakh power system?

Although the share of wind and solar energy in the Kazakh power system is still relatively low, grid integration issues are already be-coming a concern. This is because the output of old coal-fired power plants, unlike that of hydro-power or gas-fired power plants, cannot be flexibly regulated.

How does Kazakhstan meet its domestic demand for thermal coal?

Kazakhstan fully meets its domestic demand for thermal coal. About 30% of the coal mined in Ka-zakhstan is exported, with two-thirds of the exports going to Russia,17 generating some further revenue.

Should Kazakhstan invest in green hydrogen?

Kazakhstan should capitalise on its strong green hydrogen potential. While exports to Europe are unlikely in the short- to mid-term, green hydrogen can and should be developed to decarbonise the country’s hard-to-abate sectors, such as refineries, the chemical industry, and steel produc-tion.

Will Kazakhstan launch new gas processing plants in 2026?

To address this, Kazakhstan’s national company QazaqGas plans to launch four new gas processing plants between 2026 and 2030, including two plants in Kashagan in partnership with Qatar’s UCC Holding.