Kazakhstan decides to refuse Russia's services during the construction of thermal power plants

Kazakhstan has started to build a 240 MW thermal power plant in Kokshetau on its own. About reported prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.

"So far, we have not received accurate information about the provision of guaranteed low-cost financing from the Russian side, so we have already started building in Kokshetau on our own, without asking anyone," Bektenov said at a press conference on July 15.

As for the other two thermal power plants (in Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk with a capacity of 360 MW each), Kazakhstan is still waiting for a response from the Russian side, the prime minister said.

"If there is no answer in the near future, we will also consider options for implementing these projects on our own," he said, noting that the authorities cannot afford to wait for a long time, as "we need both heat and electricity."

In November 2023, Kazakhstan agreed with Russia on the construction of three thermal power plants, which was estimated at $2.7 billion.

In 2024, the countries signed an intergovernmental agreement on the construction of the facilities. According to the agreement, Russian banks are to finance the project. They were to provide loans for 15 years.

In May 2025, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar spoke about problems with obtaining preferential export financing for equipment to be used for the construction and operation of thermal power plants. He said that Kazakhstan would look for new investors if the Russian side failed to provide money for the equipment.

Last week, Deputy Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Bakhytzhan Ilyasov said that companies from China and South Korea could build three thermal power plants in Kazakhstan.

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