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Coal

Kazakhstan Coal Exports Hit 7 Million Tons in Q1 2026

Kazakhstan coal exports reached 7.1 million tons in the first three months of 2026, while the domestic market remained the primary destination for the country’s coal producers, Nikolai Radostovets, executive director of the Republican Association of Mining and Metallurgical Enterprises, said at the VII Coal Industry Forum. Energy Ministry figures have put Kazakhstan’s 2025 coal production at around 115.9 million tons. Of that amount, 85.9 million tons were supplied to the domestic market, including the housing and utilities sector and thermal power plants, while exports amounted to 30 million tons. Kazakhstan’s main coal export destinations remain Russia, Poland, Uzbekistan, Turkey, India, and Malaysia, Radostovets told participants at the Coal Industry Forum, held as part of the Astana Mining & Metallurgy Congress, AMM 2026. Coal output is expected to rise this year to 128.9 million tons. In January-March, nearly 29 million tons of coal were mined, while exports reached 7.1 million tons, according to industry association data. “One of the key tasks for the industry remains ensuring stable supply to the domestic market, including thermal power plants and the housing and utilities sector,” Radostovets said, whilst also stressing that exports remain a crucial part of the sector’s sustainability. “Exports ensure workload for enterprises, foreign currency earnings, tax revenues and stable production programs. Domestic needs are always prioritized, but exports help maintain overall production levels and the financial sustainability of enterprises,” he said. He also warned that Kazakhstan’s coal exports face mounting transportation risks linked to geopolitical shifts across Eurasia, as well as insufficient capacity in regional logistics infrastructure. To preserve export potential, Radostovets said Kazakhstan needs more predictable tariff-setting by transport operators, expanded alternative logistics routes, improved efficiency at the Caspian ports of Aktau and Kuryk, and stronger intergovernmental coordination on transit issues. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov sought to reassure coal producers that domestic demand for their products is likely to grow in the coming years as the government expands coal-fired power generation. “Against the backdrop of rising electricity consumption, industrial growth and the development of the digital economy, reliable baseload generation is becoming increasingly important. In this regard, the government has approved the national project ‘Development of Coal Generation,’” Akkenzhenov said. The program covers 2026-2030 and provides for the construction of new energy facilities, while expanding or modernizing existing installations. This is expected to create additional demand for around 20 million tons of thermal coal per year by 2030. Kazakhstan’s renewed emphasis on coal reflects a wider tension in its energy policy. The government is seeking a route out of electricity shortages and provide reliable baseload generation for industry, data centers, and other energy-intensive sectors, while also maintaining its formal target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Officials have argued that new coal capacity will be paired with cleaner technologies and modern emissions controls, but the scale of the planned expansion underlines how central coal remains to Kazakhstan’s power system. The national project includes eight new coal-generation facilities, including major projects in Ekibastuz, Kurchatov, and Zhezkazgan, as well...

Coal

Kyrgyzstan Coal Industry Tilts Toward China

Kyrgyzstan coal is increasingly destined for China, as the country seeks to develop new transport links and infrastructure to grow exports to its western neighbour. A new coal cleaning and enrichment line has begun operating at the Torugart-1 deposit in Naryn Region, near the Kyrgyz-Chinese border. The project is being implemented jointly by state-owned coal company Kyrgyzkomur and the Chinese company Dun-Sen. According to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Energy, the new equipment is intended to improve coal quality and reduce the environmental impact associated with coal extraction and preparation. The agreement to jointly develop the Torugart-1 deposit was signed on May 13, 2025. Geological surveys confirmed reserves of approximately 423,400 tons of coal within a 54-hectare mining area. The deposit is being developed through open-pit mining, with production expected to exceed 100,000 tons in 2026. The Chinese company has invested around $2 million in the project. “The launch of such facilities is strategically important for ensuring energy security, supplying the domestic market with high-quality coal, and supporting regional development,” Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev said. Torugart-1 began operations in November 2025. Shortly after its launch, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev visited the site and instructed officials to ensure stable operations while accelerating the start of coal exports through the Torugart border crossing with China. The development of Torugart-1 forms part of a broader strategy aimed at expanding Kyrgyz coal exports to China. On May 20, 2026, officials launched a separate Kyrgyz-Chinese logistics project valued at $430 million in the village of Nura in Osh Region. The project is being implemented through a partnership between Kyrgyzkomur and China’s Xinjiang Dacheng Yuanlong Technology. Its main objective is to facilitate coal exports from the Tekelik deposit through the Irkeshtam border crossing with China. The planned logistics hub will occupy a 10-hectare site and include two coal processing plants, as well as a conveyor-belt transportation system designed to move coal directly toward export routes. Once completed, the infrastructure is expected to handle up to 10 million tons of coal annually. The first phase includes construction of a 7.7-kilometer conveyor line, with long-term plans calling for an extension of up to 157 kilometers. Kyrgyzstan’s push to expand coal production coincides with growing demand for Kyrgyz coal in China. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, coal shipments to China have been rising, with the Torugart and Irkeshtam border crossings serving as the main export corridors. On December 3, 2025, the Kyrgyz government introduced a six-month ban on coal exports by road in an effort to stabilize domestic supplies and prices. The coal push comes as Kyrgyzstan looks for ways to ease pressure on its power system, which remains heavily dependent on hydropower and vulnerable to winter shortages when electricity and heating demand rise. However, the restrictions did not apply to exports passing through the Torugart and Irkeshtam border crossings, highlighting the delicate diplomacy involved in Kyrgyzstan's dealings with Beijing. The projects are significant for Kyrgyzkomur and for cross-border trade with China, although...

Coal Industry

Kazakhstan Plans Diesel Fuel Production from Coal

Two projects to produce diesel fuel from coal are underway in Kazakhstan, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said at a government meeting. According to the minister, the projects, each with a capacity of 100,000 tons of diesel fuel per year, are being implemented in the Pavlodar and Karaganda regions. Their costs are estimated at $63 million and $65 million, respectively. As part of efforts to develop the coal chemical industry, a $132 million project is also underway in the Karaganda region to produce metallurgical coke, with a capacity of 1 million tons per year. The minister said the three projects will create about 3,000 jobs. Currently, around 32,000 people are employed in the coal industry. Three additional projects are in the planning stage. These include a coke-chemical production facility in the Karaganda region with coal tar processing capacity of up to 200,000 tons per year, benzene production of up to 35,000 tons, and coke oven gas purification. Authorities are also considering the construction of a plant in the Abai region to produce ammonia and urea from coal (300,000 tons per year of each product), as well as a project to produce up to 2 billion cubic meters of gas from coal. The minister noted that the development of the coal chemical industry faces several challenges, including high capital intensity, technological complexity, and the need to establish an appropriate regulatory framework. He added that developing this sector would reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and increase exports of higher value-added products. The coal industry remains strategically important to the country’s economy. In 2025, coal production reached 115.9 million tons, an increase of 7% compared to the previous year. Domestic consumption totaled 85.9 million tons, while exports stood at 30 million tons. In 2026, coal production is projected to reach 128.9 million tons. Investment in the sector amounted to approximately $655 million in 2025 and is expected to rise to $1.1 billion in 2026. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Kazakhstan’s coal reserves could meet the country’s energy needs for 200-300 years. The authorities have also approved a coal-fired power generation development program that involves the construction of eight new power plants and the modernization of 11 existing ones.

Coal

Kazakhstan’s Largest Coal Mine to Increase Production from 2026

Bogatyr Kömir LLP, the operator of Kazakhstan’s largest coal mine in Ekibastuz, in Pavlodar region, plans to gradually increase production beginning in 2026, the Ministry of Energy reports. The company, which uses open-pit mining, is the country’s largest supplier of coal to the domestic market, accounting for about 38% of total coal output. According to the ministry, coal production in Kazakhstan reached 120.5 million tons in 2025. With balance reserves estimated at 2.4 billion tons, the company is positioning itself for long-term growth. Under current plans, output is expected to rise from 42.7 million tons in 2024 to 45.2 million tons by 2026, reaching 56.5 million tons annually by 2032. The expansion will be backed by a $733 million investment program for 2026-2032. Funds will be allocated to capital construction and technological upgrades, including the introduction of cyclic-flow technology at the Severny open-pit mine and the development of new spoil tips. The company also plans to modernize its mining transport fleet and reconstruct and overhaul existing facilities to ensure stable fuel supplies to the energy sector. The Ministry of Energy links the production increase to the implementation of a national project to expand coal-fired power generation. The Pavlodar region already plays a central role in the country’s energy system, accounting for about 42% of Kazakhstan’s total electricity generation last year. Key elements of the program include expanding the Ekibastuz GRES-2 power plant, increasing its installed capacity from 1 GW to 2.1 GW; constructing a new Ekibastuz GRES-3 power plant with a capacity of 2.64 GW using “clean coal” technologies; and modernizing the GRES plant in Aksu. According to the ministry, a significant increase in power generation requires advance expansion of the raw material base. Additional electricity demand is also expected from digital infrastructure projects. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, authorities plan to create a “valley” of data centers in the Pavlodar region focused on digitalization and high-performance computing.

Coal

Kyrgyzstan Government Temporarily Bans Road Coal Exports as Shipments to China Surge

On December 3, the government of Kyrgyzstan imposed a six-month ban on the export of coal by road transport. The restriction aims to stabilize the domestic market amid rising demand and does not apply to shipments passing through the Irkeshtam and Torugart checkpoints on the border with China. Despite its environmental impact, coal remains a critical fuel source for winter heating in Kyrgyzstan, which continues to face chronic electricity shortages. In an effort to curb domestic price increases, the government introduced temporary state regulation of coal prices in September, effective for 90 days. While domestic needs remain high, coal is also a key export commodity. China has emerged as a growing destination for Kyrgyz coal, with exports reaching 11,600 tons in September 2025, the highest monthly volume recorded this year, according to China’s General Administration of Customs. Data from the National Statistics Committee of Kyrgyzstan shows that in 2024, the country exported 1.1 million tons of coal worth $52.7 million. Uzbekistan remained the largest buyer, importing 996,600 tons. However, exports to China surged to 118,200 tons, up from just 13,000 tons in 2023. In late November, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev visited the Torugart border checkpoint and the newly opened Torugart-1 coal mine, which began operations on November 12. Kyrgyzkomur OJSC, the national coal company, holds the exploration license for a 557.6-hectare section of the deposit in the At-Bashy District of Naryn Province. Total reserves are estimated at 423,400 tons. Kasymaliev instructed officials to ensure stable operations at the site and to initiate coal exports from the Torugart-1 mine as soon as possible.

Trade

Uzbekistan and Taliban Sign Trade Deals as Coal Shipments Pivot from Pakistan

Afghanistan International has reported that the Taliban administration in Afghanistan’s Balkh province has signed new trade agreements with Uzbekistan, signaling a shift in Kabul’s commercial strategy amid growing tensions with Pakistan. According to Haji Zaid, spokesperson for the Taliban-appointed governor in Balkh, Afghan coal will now be exported to Uzbekistan under the newly signed agreements, replacing previous shipments to Pakistan. In exchange, Uzbekistan will export cement and pharmaceuticals to Afghanistan. Zaid stated that the Taliban, in response to border closures and disrupted trade with Pakistan, is seeking to strengthen economic ties with neighboring countries, particularly Uzbekistan and Iran. Persian-language media also reported that Taliban officials are increasingly urging Afghan traders to seek alternative commercial and transit routes. The Taliban’s Ministry of Finance has claimed that the deterioration of trade with Pakistan has had “no negative impact” on Afghanistan’s overall trade volume, asserting that customs revenues have remained stable. The ministry added that it would fully support traders using new trade corridors. However, Afghan economic experts have challenged the Taliban’s claims. Economist Reza Farzam told local media that assertions about Pakistan’s trade freeze having no impact are misleading, arguing that Afghanistan currently lacks sufficient substitutes for its traditional transit infrastructure through Pakistan. Earlier, Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported that the month-long closure of the Torkham border crossing caused more than $4.5 billion in economic losses on both sides of the border. The latest agreements build on earlier announcements that Uzbekistan plans to import Afghan coal as part of broader efforts to balance bilateral trade. During a recent visit to Kabul, an Uzbek delegation expressed interest in purchasing coal, resulting in private-sector deals worth $4.5 million. Discussions also covered trade incentives, joint exhibitions, and a proposal from Uzbekistan to construct a cement plant in Afghanistan’s Samangan region. The Taliban administration has further stated that Afghan agricultural products will be exported to Central Asia, South Asia, and Europe via air corridors through Uzbekistan, as part of a wider strategy to diversify the country’s trade routes.