Kazakhstan Plans Stable Electricity Surplus by 2029, President Says

Kazakhstan must reach a stable electricity surplus by 2029, the President has said, calling energy a key factor in the country's economic competitiveness and sovereignty. The country currently produces 123 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, but this is not enough for growing demand from industry, construction, the agro-industrial complex and the digital economy, including artificial intelligence and data centres.

Despite high demand, a shortage persists. In winter Kazakhstan buys electricity from neighbouring states at high prices and returns it in summer at much lower prices. The President said this practice has continued for decades. He also noted that construction of a thermal power plant in Balkhash has been halted, and deadlines for new capacity are being missed in Turkestan, Kyzylorda, Almaty and Ekibastuz.

The President stressed the need for professional energy specialists, especially for nuclear power, and pointed to a shortage of qualified staff as another industry problem. Expert and honoured energy worker Zhakyp Khairushev argued that key decisions should be made by people who understand the physics of technological processes, the cost of accidents and responsibility for energy supply reliability.