Kazakhstan Launches 30 MW Small Hydroelectric Plant Project
The Kazakh state water management enterprise Kazvodkhoz is launching a project to develop a network of 29 small hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 30 megawatts per year. The Ministry of Water Resources announced the initiative in late March 2026, designating the Samarkand reservoir in the Karaganda region, the Kargaly reservoir in the Aktobe region, and the Karakol reservoir in the Abai region as the initial construction sites.
Energy generated by the new hydroelectric plants will not be supplied exclusively to the commercial market. The electricity will primarily power the water management facilities themselves, including pumping stations that supply water to agricultural fields. Only the surplus energy will be sold to the national grid through the unified purchaser for renewable energy.
A primary operational concern involves balancing energy and agricultural demands – hydroelectric plants operate most efficiently during winter water discharges, whereas farming operations require substantial water supplies during the summer. Turbine operations will remain subordinate to agricultural requirements to prevent water shortages during the growing season. The functioning of the power plants will not alter established water discharge regimes and will be strictly synchronized with the standard operational schedules of the reservoirs.
The first three hydroelectric facilities will be constructed using private investment. The state budget will not assume obligations to guarantee the profitability of these projects, placing all financial risks entirely on the investors. Private businesses will secure special green tariffs only under strict conditions, which require absolute compliance with the qualification standards established by national legislation.
