Kazakhstan To Mine More Coal Despite Green Energy Pledges

Despite the “green” course in the energy sector, Kazakhstan expects not only to increase coal production, but also to attract major investment to the industry, Orda.kz reports.

According to the Ministry of Energy, Kazakhstan produced 115 million tons of coal in 2025, which is seven percent more than a year earlier. Most of the fuel went to the domestic market: 85 million tons were sent to power plants, utilities and heating. Kazakhstan sent another 30 million tons for export.

Now 40 subsoil users are engaged in coal mining in the country. At the same time, the state is trying to attract investors to the industry more actively. If in 2025 the volume of investment under contracts amounted to 305 billion tenge, then in 2026 the Ministry of Energy expects 553 billion tenge of investment.

Kazakhstan remains one of the largest countries in the world in terms of coal reserves. The country ranks 10th in the world: explored reserves are estimated at 33.6 billion tons. According to the authorities’ calculations, at the current rate of production, these resources will last for 300 years.

Against the background of talks about decarbonization and the transition to renewable energy sources, coal still remains the basis of Kazakhstan’s energy sector. Power plants using this type of fuel provide a significant part of electricity generation in the country.

Original author: Alexander Smolin

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