Kazakhstan has begun building a combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Kokshetau independently, without waiting for financing from Russia. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced the decision at a press conference, Kursiv.kz reports.
The plant is one of three coal-fired power stations that Kazakhstan had initially planned to construct in partnership with Russia. However, earlier this year, Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar noted that Russia was facing difficulties in securing financing for the projects.
“For the three CHP plants, we originally considered implementation with Russian partners. But we have not received a definitive commitment on concessional financing from the Russian side. Therefore, we have started construction of the Kokshetau plant on our own. Samruk-Energo is managing the project, and work is already underway on-site,” Bektenov said.
Kazakhstan is still awaiting a response from Moscow regarding funding for the other two plants in Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semey. If there is no reply in the near future, the government will begin building those stations independently as well.
The original plan involved joint construction with Russia of CHP plants in Semey (360 MW), Ust-Kamenogorsk (360 MW), and Kokshetau (240 MW). Later, the Akmola regional administration decided to move the Kokshetau plant to the Zerenda District.
According to Interfax, the projects were initially expected to involve PJSC Inter RAO as the main contractor. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy had envisioned financing the projects through a Russian government loan with subsidies. However, in May, Vice Prime Minister Sklyar said that obtaining concessional export financing for equipment had become a challenge and that Kazakhstan would look for new investors if Russia could not provide the necessary funds.
