Senator Raises Questions about Environmental Planning for Energy Projects in East Kazakhstan

Senate deputy Olga Bulavkina inquired about environmental considerations in designing new energy facilities in East Kazakhstan, Orda.kz reports.

She asked whether the planned thermal power plant in Oskemen could switch to natural gas if Russia proceeds with a pipeline through the region.

Considering the environmental situation in Oskemen, when designing the CHPP, it is planned to provide for the possibility of its subsequent conversion to gas. Since the projects provide that the Russian Federation will nevertheless supply gas to the north and east of Kazakhstan, the question arises: will this CHPP be able to operate on gas in the future?

Olga Bulavkina asked during a meeting of Samruk-Kazyna’s public council, where Samruk-Energo presented its activity report.

Kairat Maksutov, head of Samruk-Energo JSC, responded that although the plant is being designed as coal-fired, future conversion to gas is already included in the plans.

Regarding the construction of the Oskemen Thermal Power Plant, yes, in fact it is planned that it will operate on coal, but now at the design stage a transition to gas is immediately envisaged. As was correctly said, Russian gas will transit through Eastern Kazakhstan to China, and within the framework of Kazakhstan's agreements, this gas could be a source of fuel for the thermal power plant,
 said Maksutov.

Bulavkina also inquired about the status of two major hydroelectric stations in the region — the Shulbinsk and Oskemen plants.

Maksutov explained that they had officially changed hands:

They were part of Samruk-Kazyna, and then were transferred to Samruk-Energo. Later, they were transferred to the subsidiary Kazakh Green Power. Our approved strategy includes a direction for the transfer of all 'green' assets and their concentration by 100% in subsidiaries with the possibility of taking this company to an IPO and attracting investors,
 he stated.

According to Maksutov, the stations remain state-owned.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova