New hydropower plants for East Kazakhstan: a challenge for ecosystems
Large-scale construction of hydroelectric power stations is planned in the East Kazakhstan region, which causes concern among environmentalists. Over the next five years, six new HPPs will be built, the commissioning of which is scheduled for 2027-2030. Their total capacity will be 93.3 MW. The projects include stations on the Bukhtarma River (50 MW), the Udene and Zhemeney rivers (4.5 and 2.4 MW, respectively), as well as two hydroelectric power stations on the Kalzhyr River with a total capacity of 35 MW.
The head of the Department of Energy and Housing of the region, Nurlan Ramazanov, said that in 2024, for the first time in five years, the region reached an electricity surplus of 0.07 billion kWh due to generation of 7.64 billion kWh. However, further development of the energy infrastructure is associated with an increase in capacity by 595.3 MW of electricity and 1214 Gcal/h of heat until the end of 2030. It is also planned to modernize the existing capacities of Ust-Kamenogorsk CHP and Ust-Kamenogorsk HPP.
Although the projects are aimed at meeting the growing energy supply needs of the region, their implementation can lead to significant environmental consequences. The construction of hydroelectric power plants is often accompanied by changes in the hydrological regime of rivers, disruption of ecosystems and reduction of biodiversity. Of particular concern are projects in the Katon-Karagai district of East Kazakhstan region — a unique natural area with rich flora and fauna.
“The choice in favor of building numerous small hydropower plants, despite their status as renewable sources, should not obscure their significant and often irreversible impact on river ecosystems and biodiversity,” says Alexander Kolotov, director of the Rivers Without Boundaries Public Foundation. – The projects of new hydropower plants for the east of Kazakhstan appeared as a result of auctions for renewable energy conducted by the Ministry of Energy, but there are no environmental restrictions in this procedure, only economic considerations are taken into account.”
Environmentalists are calling for a thorough assessment of the environmental impact before starting the construction of a hydroelectric power station. Measures are needed to minimize damage, including conservation of water resources, monitoring of the state of ecosystems and adaptation of technologies to reduce anthropogenic impact.
KazVesti
