On February 9, a roundtable discussion on the national project to develop coal-fired power generation was held in Astana. The meeting brought together heads of relevant ministries, major energy producers, subsoil users, and representatives of financial institutions to jointly develop a strategy for developing this fundamental energy sector. The roundtable included strategic sessions to discuss current issues related to plant modernization, increasing coal production, and decarbonizing production. Sergey Kan, a shareholder at CAEPCO JSC, shared plans for modernizing existing coal-fired power plants, focusing on reducing emissions. Large-scale expansion requires the implementation of modern technologies to prevent additional emissions. To achieve these goals, it is planned to use selective catalytic cleaning with an efficiency of over 92%, electrostatic precipitators with an efficiency of 99.9%, and limestone-based desulfurization systems. A key component of the long-term strategy will be carbon capture and storage technology, the first R&D project for which has already been implemented by KING in collaboration with its technology partner, SLB. Temirlan Utegenov, CEO of Kazakhmys Energy LLP, discussed strategic plans for the development of coal-fired power generation through 2032, which include investments of over 1.2 trillion tenge in the construction of new and modernization of existing capacity. A key project will be the construction of a 700 MW condensing power plant in Kurchatov. The modernization program for existing assets will increase generation by 390 MW and includes the construction of a new unit at the Topar State District Power Plant, as well as the upgrade of the Zhezkazgan and Balkhash Thermal Power Plants with the installation of new turbine units, increasing the capacity of each plant by 65 MW. Dinmukhamet Idrisov, shareholder of Kazakhstan Utility Systems LLP, presented his development strategy, in which he views coal-fired power generation as a fundamental element of a balanced energy system in Kazakhstan. Building on the successful experience of 2009–2015, when the Karaganda CHPP-3 was expanded to 670 MW under the “Tariff for Investment” program, becoming the largest combined heat and power plant in the country, the group continues a large-scale modernization of its assets. Currently, the next stage of CHPP-3 expansion is underway in Karaganda, including the construction of turbine unit #7 and boiler unit #9, which will help meet growing demand and improve environmental performance. Simultaneously, the Ust-Kamenogorsk CHPP in East Kazakhstan Oblast is being expanded with the installation of a turbine unit and boiler unit, aimed at eliminating the city’s heat deficit and reducing specific emissions. Ilyar Nizamov, CEO of Karazhyra JSC, presented a comprehensive plan for the development of the coal industry, which calls for a large-scale increase in production at the Karazhyra open-pit mine by 73% to 14.2 million tons of coal per year by 2029. Such a significant increase in production is necessary to provide fuel for new generating capacity in the regions, including the thermal power plants under construction in Semey, Ust-Kamenogorsk, and Kurchatov.The total annual demand for these projects will amount to approximately 6 million tons of coal. Implementation of these measures will create a reliable foundation for new coal-fired power generation and guarantee the long-term energy security of East Kazakhstan and the Abai region.

Source: Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan

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