East Kazakhstan Plans Hydropower Cascades to Support Industrial Expansion

Authorities in the East Kazakhstan Region are evaluating the construction of hydroelectric power station cascades in the Shemonaikha and Markakol districts. These new generating capacities are a necessary condition – a prerequisite – for the energy supply of future industrial facilities in the region. Regional Akim Nurymbet Saktaganov announced these plans during a session of the regional maslikhat.

Historically, the economy of East Kazakhstan has relied on the extraction and processing of non-ferrous metals. The local administration now intends to diversify production – with plans including lithium development, the mining of rare earth metals, power engineering, and the deep processing of raw materials. The implementation of such energy-intensive projects requires the prioritized development of infrastructure.

Potential development sites include the Tarbagatay district, where the construction of a mining and processing plant is envisioned. In the Ulan district, authorities intend to initiate the development of lithium deposits and the processing of pegmatite ores, as well as the creation of a major transport and logistics hub.

Hydropower is set to serve as the foundation for the proposed industrial expansion. The hydroelectric cascades in the Shemonaikha and Markakol districts are intended to provide the power reserves necessary to launch processing operations. The development of local generation will reduce the reliance of future enterprises on external energy supplies and increase the profitability of metal mining activities.