Five new HPPs will be built in Katon-Karagai and Bukhtarma

It is planned to build five new hydroelectric power stations with a capacity of 74.3 MW in the east of Kazakhstan in the coming years. The correspondent of Kazinform agency found out why the region focused on hydropower and what problems should be solved along the way.:

The climatic conditions of Eastern Kazakhstan limit the development of solar and wind energy. There is no significant potential for these sources in the region.

— If you look at the World Atlas of Wind Energy Potential, you can see that only certain areas have minimal conditions for using wind or solar. It is now more profitable for investors to consider regions with a higher potential of these sources,” explained Nurlan Ramazanov, head of the Energy and Housing Department of East Kazakhstan Region.

At the same time, in his opinion, hydropower remains the most rational choice for the region.

— A hydroelectric power station is a regulated energy source that allows you to flexibly change the output volumes. This is especially important to ensure stable energy supply,” Ramazanov added.

Existing energy base and future plans

Seven hydroelectric power plants of various forms of ownership are already operating in the region, which makes East Kazakhstan the country’s leader in hydropower. In 2024, the total volume of energy generation in the region amounted to more than 7.6 billion kWh, of which 243.5 million kWh is the share of renewable sources.

The construction of five new small hydropower plants is planned for the future:

• Hydroelectric power station in Katon-Karagai district (capacity 1.4 MW, commissioning – 2027);
• Hydroelectric power station on the Bukhtarma River in the Altai region (50 MW, 2029);
• Two hydroelectric power plants in Zaisan district (4.5 MW and 2.4 MW, 2030);
• Hydroelectric power station in Markakolsky district (16 MW, 2030).

The total hydropotential of the region allows to implement projects of 95 small hydropower plants with a total capacity of 2 GW. Currently, we are actively working with potential investors to raise funds in this industry.

Problems and solutions

Despite significant prospects, the construction of small hydropower plants is fraught with a number of problems. One of the main ones is the need to allocate land in the areas of the forest fund where the facilities are planned to be located.

— Investors face difficulties at the stage of site approval, as the forest fund requires a special approach. We are actively working with the authorized bodies to speed up the resolution of these issues,” Nurlan Ramazanov said.

In addition, it is important to ensure a balance between the development of energy and the preservation of the ecosystem of rivers. Experts emphasize that the construction of new facilities will take into account the need for minimal environmental impact.

In general, Kazakhstan plans to explore the hydropower potential of three regions of the country — the Irtysh-Zaisan, Alakol and Balkhash basins – for the construction of new HPPs. In addition, the construction of another hydroelectric power station on the Irtysh in Semey is being actively discussed.

Nelly Nigmatullina (Kazinform)