Kazakhstan to Invest Over $15.5 Billion in Coal-Fired Power Generation

Kazakhstan is launching a large-scale investment programme in the energy sector. By 2030, the country plans to attract at least $15.5 billion for the development of coal-fired power generation. The corresponding national project has been approved by the government. According to government estimates, electricity demand in Kazakhstan will grow at an accelerated pace, partly due to the expansion of the IT sector, data centers, and AI. Under these conditions, the authorities are prioritising baseload generation, which renewable energy sources are not yet able to fully provide. The national project provides for the commissioning and modernisation of 7.8 GW of capacity. Key facilities include an energy cluster in Ekibastuz (2,640 MW), power plants in Kurchatov (700 MW) and Zhezkazgan (500 MW), as well as new combined heat and power plants in Kokshetau, Semey, and Ust-Kamenogorsk. Financing will come primarily from extra-budgetary sources through the attraction of private capital. The government expects the investments to generate a multiplier effect in the economy, including growth in mechanical engineering, energy equipment manufacturing, and automated systems. At the same time, 11 existing power plants are to be modernised. This is expected to reduce equipment wear by 12.6% and increase generation efficiency. Implementation of the project will also lead to an increase in thermal coal consumption of around 20 million tons per year. To ensure supply, additional investment is planned in transport infrastructure, including expanding the railcar fleet and modernising railway lines. Coal-fired generation is therefore set to become a driver not only for the energy sector but also for related industries. Despite the emphasis on coal, the authorities are counting on the introduction of “clean” generation technologies. New power plants will be equipped with modern emission-control systems, including electrostatic precipitators and desulphurization units. These measures are expected to reduce environmental impact and bring the industry closer to international standards. The project is expected to create about 4,500 permanent jobs, along with employee support measures such as subsidised mortgages. The launch of the project comes amid the global energy transition, creating a strategic dilemma. On the one hand, Kazakhstan aims to ensure energy security and sustain economic growth. On the other, pressure linked to the international climate agenda remains. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the country plans to fully meet domestic electricity demand by 2027 and achieve a sustainable surplus by 2029, allowing it to begin exports. At the same time, new energy-intensive projects are under consideration, including the creation of a “data centre valley” in the Pavlodar region, which is also expected to rely on coal-fired generation.

Coal Mine Explosion in Tajikistan Kills Six Afghan Workers

Six Afghan workers have been killed in a coal mine explosion in Tajikistan’s Sughd region, according to local sources cited by Tasnim News Agency. The blast occurred in the Ayni district, where all six victims were reportedly working underground at the time. Rescue operations are still underway, and the bodies have yet to be recovered. Sources say five of the deceased were from Afghanistan’s Daikundi province and one from Lal wa Sarjangal district in Ghor province. Tajik authorities have not yet released the official identities of the victims. Earlier this year, a similar incident occurred in another Sughd coal mine, where eight Afghan miners, also from Daikundi, lost their lives, according to Etilaatroz. Local residents and mine workers report that such tragedies are becoming increasingly frequent due to unsafe working conditions, lack of protective equipment, and minimal regulatory oversight. Hundreds of Afghan nationals work in Tajikistan’s coal mines, often in hazardous and unregulated conditions. “We are not allowed to complain or talk to the media. If we do, we risk being fined or deported,” one Afghan worker told a local news outlet. Many report being employed without formal contracts, with employers failing to provide adequate workplace safety measures. Experts note that widespread unemployment and economic hardship in Afghanistan have driven many young men to seek employment abroad, particularly in Central Asia. Jobs in mining, construction, and seasonal agriculture remain common, but often come without legal protections or health insurance. Local observers estimate that more than 14 Afghan workers died in coal mine accidents in Tajikistan in 2024 alone. This latest incident comes just days after northern Afghanistan was struck by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 27 people and injured nearly 1,000 others.