- Kazakhstan approved a law ratifying an agreement with China to develop large-scale renewable energy projects
- Three projects, two wind farms and one solar plant, will add 1.8 GW of capacity with $2.2 billion in investment
- The projects will create jobs, generate 5.7 billion kWh of clean power annually, and cut CO₂ emissions by 4.5 million tonnes
Kazakhstan has taken a significant step toward strengthening its renewable energy sector after members of parliament approved a draft law ratifying an agreement with China for the implementation of large-scale green energy projects.
The Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov presented the document which shows that the agreement was signed on November 12, 2024 at the COP29 Climate Forum.
The agreement establishes three renewable energy projects in Kazakhstan which will produce 1.8 gigawatts of electricity through their combined power generation capacity.
The project involves building two wind power plants which will generate 1.5 GW of electricity and a solar power plant which will produce 300 MW of power.
The projects will be located in the Pavlodar, Karaganda, and Turkistan regions which were selected because they have excellent wind and solar resources and can connect new generating stations to the national power grid.
Also Read: Nepal and China to Speed up Projects, Strengthen Border Trade
The project includes both electricity generation and the construction of grid connection facilities and energy storage systems which will provide essential infrastructure for continuous power delivery.
The total investment for the projects is estimated at $2.2 billion, with funding expected to come from international financial institutions and commercial banks.
Akkenzhenov states that the projects will create permanent employment for approximately 2000 workers and temporary employment for more than 200 workers while driving economic growth in related fields.
The projects will generate more than 5.7 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity each year while decreasing carbon dioxide emissions by about 4.5 million tonnes annually which supports Kazakhstan's long-term environmental targets. State holding company Samruk-Kazyna will co-invest in the projects together with other investors.